A TEAM of students at Holyrood Academy led by the head boy is organising a collection of donations for the town's food bank.

Seamus Curtin, head boy at Holyrood, has worked together with the elected senior team of students in Year 13 to raise awareness for the Lord’s Larder food bank charity, based at the Forefront Community Centre in Chard, which distributes food supplies to those in need.

The Lord’s Larder is run by volunteers from the churches in Chard and need to reach a quota of ten to twelve thousand items per year to meet demand.

These supplies aid people in the community who depend on these donations to feed themselves and their families.

Seamus said: “Holyrood wants to lend a helping hand and I urge everyone to donate just one item of food - but it can be more - to this cause during the next two weeks.

"I am hoping our collection will aid the health and happiness of members of our community and we can make a difference to those in need.”

In 2016, 564 bags were handed out by the Lord's Larder, 17.5 per cent up on 2015.

John White, of the Lord's Larder, said: "The people of Chard have been absolutely fantastic.

"In the past Chard Churches Together have been able to meet demand on their own but that has got more difficult over the last few years.

"What made 2016 so special was the spontaneous out pourings of generosity from the people of Chard.

"We are very very grateful and thank the people of Holyrood. It is a wonderful initiative by young people."