More than 2,000kg of essential items were donated to Hatfield Foodbank during a three-day event held at Tesco.

Hosted at the Great North Road store from Thursday, November 30 to Saturday, December 2, customers were invited to purchase pre-packed bags filled with items that the foodbank desperately needs.

"The support from local residents as well as the Tesco staff was wonderful. Fiona – the Tesco community champion – worked so hard to help make this event a success,” said Dominic Long, Hatfield Foodbank manager.

Welwyn Hatfield Mayor Pankit Shah visited the event to help out, having chosen Hatfield Foodbank as one of his charities to support.

Dominic admitted that the cost of living crisis has forced struggling families to look for help, with Hatfield Foodbank seeing increasing demand.

"Demand for the foodbank remains very high with us currently feeding about 100 households every week. A significant number of those are having to come to a foodbank for the first time," he said.

The foodbank was established in October 2017 when three Hatfield churches – Gracemead Church, King’s Community Church and Kingdom Light Church – came together to help residents.

It is now part of the national network of foodbanks known as the Trussell Trust.