RESCUED deer which have been given a new home among the hills of South Somerset are being given a helping hand thanks to a generous supermarket giant.

Volunteers at the South West Deer Rescue and Study Centre have received a nice boost thanks to Chard’s Lidl store.

The branch was approached by Shaun Jackson, a deer park worker, to see if they could donate food past its sell by date.

Ken Kneil, a deer volunteer, said: “When approached by Shaun, Lidl had no hesitation with helping out with food for the deer. They have been kind enough to offer fruit and vegetables and other items which are past their sell by date.”

The partnership comes off the back of Lidl’s ‘feed it back’ scheme, where stores donate available products to foodbanks, charities and local causes.

Mike Gage, who runs the deer park near Crewkerne, said: “The food is a great help in feeding the many deer I have, and I am very grateful to the store manager.

“They said a volunteer is welcome to call in every morning to see what is available.”

A Lidl spokesman said: “It’s fantastic to hear the positive impact our Feed it Back programme is having on good causes within the local community, such as South West Deer Rescue. We are really proud of the Chard teams’ efforts in helping to make sure our surplus food is put to good use.”

To visit the deer park, call 01460 64174.