A HIGH street retailer is giving food to charities to ensure the elderly and young children get a healthy meal.

The Marks and Spencer store in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, has teamed up with Woodhouse Close Church, South Durham Hospice and other local charities for the venture.

The store gives fruit, vegetables and meals that are on their sell-by date to the charities to be used on the same day for the community.

Dave Merryweather from Woodhouse Close Church, Bishop Auckland, said: "I collect the food every Wednesday which we then use for our Meals-on-Wheels delivery.

"We also cook for residents who like to come into the church for our lunch club.

"Our service is reliant on the support of local businesses and the community, and without the help of Marks and Spencer we would not be able to serve the main meal of the day.''

Lynne Crawford, manager of Marks and Spencer in Bishop Auckland, said: "It is a pleasure that we are helping people to get access to healthy meals, and to know that the food we provide is being used rather than wasted.

"We run a rota system so that every day a charity can come into store, helping the likes of South Durham Hospice, Middlestone Moor Children's Unit, Woodhouse Close Church and the Salvation Army.''