A community group has made over 850 grab bags for children for lunches through the Easter holidays.

Shadsworth and Whitebirk Big Local has supported local families over the past fortnight making 862 grab bags of lunches for children while they are on holiday from school.

The local community group supports the people of Shadsworth, Whitebirk and Romney Walk by providing food for children, delivering food parcels to those vulnerable or shielding and putting on sessions for youth debt advice.

Manager of the project, Mohammed Khan, is supported by five volunteers, Annette Allen, Elaine Samson, Alan Samson, Shave Calvert and Abdul Qadoos.

Mohammad said: “We have had some really positive feedback from parents and I think they have appreciated all the work that has been undertaken from the volunteers.

“We have people from the community that have even volunteered on the Easter bank holiday Monday.

“Some families have as many as four or five children so this has been invaluable to them. Others have one or two children but it is still important.”

The initiative began over Christmas after inspiration from Marcus Rashford and in that first school holiday period, they made over 200 food packages including tinned soups and other pre-packaged items.

Volunteers have now had full food safety training so they are able to make sandwiches for the bags.

The group is in the process of opening a charity shop which will host a variety of work and activities as they continue to grow as a group.