A FORMER celebrity chef has thrown her support behind a Barrowford Foodbank.

Gill Watson, who once created culinary masterpieces for Pierce Brosnan’s as his personal chef, will be collecting end of day produce from Lidl in Colne Road, Burnley seven days a week to give to Pendle Helping Hands.

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And she is now calling on food banks across the UK to contact other Lidl stores to get their end of day produce to ensure that nothing goes to waste.

Gill, who is from Brierfield, helped set up the food bank at Barrowford Primary School after hearing that children in the borough were living in food poverty.

The school has now set up charity Pendle Helping Hands and are gathering donations to give to struggling local families this Christmas.

Gill approached Lidl in Colne Road, Burnley who agreed to help her in her plight.

She now hopes to spread the message to other food banks in the hopes they will be able to set up similar arrangements.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Lidl are letting me collect their end of day produce.

“The items they give would not be able to be sold the following date but are perfectly good to eat.

“I am going daily and getting lots of food from including lots of cakes, bread, fruit, eggs, salad, garlic and other items which is all really appreciated by people who have been struggling to put food on their table.

“The staff at Lidl are so lovely and are really pleased that the food is being used to help people who need it rather than going in the bin.

“I have put a message out on Twitter to get other food banks to approach Lidl stores to collect their end of day produce.

“It has already been retweeted 300 times.”

A spokesman for Lidl said: “Store managers are empowered to donate any edible food waste from store to food banks and charities.

“We do advise food banks that collect from us that they must carry out quality checks on the goods, and that we are unable to donate meat and poultry products, however can donate fruit and veg, bakery, and ambient items.

“As a major retailer we are aware of our responsibility to help combat hunger across the UK and to keep food waste to an absolute minimum.

“Lidl UK donates to food banks including FareShare, His Church, the Salvation Army and various other local food bank initiatives across the country.”

Gill will be operating the Pendle Helping Hands Foodbank on a mobile basis during the Christmas break.

Every Tuesday and Saturday, she will be at the junction of Reedyford Road and Charles Street, Nelson at 10am then at the junction of Reedyford Road and Regent Street at 10.30am.