STAFF and members of Hambleton District Council have joined residents in donating food and gift parcels for people who are in temporary financial need.

Hambleton District Council Leader, Councillor Mark Robson, was joined by Father Christmas at Northallerton’s Civic Centre to present the donations to Hambleton Foodshare.

The project, on Mondays from 4pm to 7pm at the Zion URC Church, in Northallerton, sees – customers present vouchers issued by agencies, including Broadacres, the District Council, CAB, North Yorkshire County Council, Probation service, Age UK, Thirsk Clock and local churches and debt advice groups, to claim a three-day food parcel.

Coun Robson said: “The amount we managed to collect is wonderful, people have been so generous and all the parcels will make a big difference to people’s lives at what is meant to be a very happy time of the year.”