ALLOTMENT holders have been helping deserving cases to get their five-a-day.

By donating fresh vegetables to a local food bank, staff at Rhyddings Park Kitchen Garden are helping to keep those who sometimes can’t afford fresh produce to eat healthier.

The Oswaldtwistle kitchen garden is run by two members of staff from Newground, and since it opened last winter it has been such a success it has yielded more crops than needed.

Joanne Shaw, their volunteer engagement officer, said: "Despite providing fresh produce to the cafe, giving some to the volunteers at the park and selling some to local residents, we realised we were going to have more than we could use each week.

"While chatting to a regular customer in the cafe one day, we found out about the food bank on Union Road and offered to donate our excess vegetables."

Collections are made on Tuesdays and Saturdays, when the foot bank opens it doors, to ensure the produce remains fresh.

Nancy Hindle, a food bank volunteer, added: “This fresh produce is wonderful. Everyone has commented how nice it is to have something fresh and healthy to be able to take home with them.”