Food bank supplier appeals for more volunteers

The food bank supplier Fareshare is based in Estover, Plymouth

A food bank supplier based in Plymouth is appealing for more volunteers to cope with increased demand.

Fareshare South West was set up two years ago and distributes supplies to food banks across Devon and Cornwall.

The non-profit organisation dealt with 55 tonnes of food in October alone.

Sixty-five charities and 8,000 families in the South West are supported as a result of its work, bosses said.

Mr Rickard is one of 50 volunteers located at the Plymouth base

Jack Rickard, a 75-year-old volunteer, delivers transports food to locations across the counties every Monday and Thursday.

He said: "I want to give something back. It keeps me busy and I just love doing it."

Former Plymouth Argyle captain Gary Sawyer said the work was "just huge"

Former Plymouth Argyle Football Club captain Gary Sawyer joined members of the Argyle Community Trust for a day of volunteering.

He said: "This is just huge what they're doing here.

"We've had a chance to come along and help, and the amount of people that do come down and help, it's doing a massive service to the city."

The charity currently has 50 volunteers providing 800 hours of free help, but bosses said they were after more to keep up with the high demand.