A FOOD co-operative is to take its good work even further afield thanks to a donation from a housing company.

The Gateshead Food Co-op, established in 2000 in the Teams and Bensham area, aims to reduce health problems caused by a poor diet.

It has two full-time workers who buy fresh fruit and vegetables at local wholesalers and sell it to residents across the borough.

The award of £10,000 from The Gateshead Housing Company Community Fund has enabled the group to buy a new van to sell produce from more locations in Gateshead.

Bernie Gill, of the co-op, said: "The award from the housing company's Community Fund means we can get out to even more parts of the borough and ensure residents can buy well priced fruit and vegetables each week.

"We particularly want to ensure young people and our older residents can get access to the van - and hopefully do something to help improve the health of residents across the whole borough."

Company Chief Executive, Bill Fullen, said: "As well as already making improvements to thousands of local homes, we want to do more to make Gateshead an even better place to live.

"Our Community Fund allows hard working groups such as The Gateshead Food Co-op to make a real difference to the lives of local people."