Tesco is urging customers to donate pre-packed bags of long-life food items to help people in need.

The supermarket chain is running its 12th annual Winter Food Collection, with all donations going to charities Trussell and FareShare.

Both charities expect a surge in demand for their services this winter.

Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: "Our partners tell us they’ve seen even more families needing their help and they expect demand to increase this winter, so we’re encouraging Bolton customers to donate whatever they can to our Winter Food Collection.

"With frontline charities and foodbanks facing exceptionally high demand this year, pre-packed donation bags make it easy to make a big difference to someone else’s Christmas."

Tesco has also donated £500,000 each to FareShare and Trussell to help them meet additional demand during the summer and winter holiday periods.

Research by Trussell shows that 'almost a quarter of children under four are now facing hunger and hardship', while a record 9.3 million people in the UK are in similar situations.

FareShare's annual impact report shows an '86 per cent increase in people accessing their services.'

More than two in three of their partner charities are seeing more people accessing their support for the first time.

In response to this, Tesco is making its pre-packed customer donation bags available at even more stores.

The bags, which typically cost between £2 and £3, are pre-filled with 'healthy and nutritious long-life items.'

Customers can pick them up in store and pay for them at the checkout.

The donated food is passed to FareShare and the Trussell, who will distribute it to charities and food banks to help families who need it most.

Emma Revie, Trussell chief executive, said: "Food banks are a last resort for people who’ve been left facing hunger and hardship.

"They’re a lifeline, offering a warm welcome and space to be heard.

"But with so many people unable to afford the essentials right now, food banks are having to purchase record amounts of emergency food.

"I know times are tough for everyone at the moment but, the Tesco Winter Collection is the perfect opportunity to donate.

"Options like the pre-packed donation bags and round-up-at-till make it easier than ever to support your local food bank today and help end hunger for good."

Winter is typically the busiest time of year for Tesco’s charity partners, which see a marked increase in the number of people needing to turn to them for support.

Between December 2023 and January 2024, the Trussell community of food banks distributed more than 600,000 food parcels, and they are expecting another 'tough' winter as levels of need remain high.

Kris Gibbon-Walsh, FareShare chief executive, said: "For more than 12 years, Tesco has been a brilliant partner, providing vital support to FareShare and communities across the UK, giving food and funding to ensure we can continue getting supplies to over 8,000 charities and community groups.

"The Tesco Winter Food Collection enables us to collect long-life, staple ingredients that complement the fresh surplus food we redistribute.

"If you’re able to donate just one item at your local store, you’ll be helping to provide a meal for someone in hardship this winter."