Wholesaler Bidford donates surplus food to community pantries in New Milton, Pennington, Ringwood, Marchwood, Ashley, Hythe, Blackfield, Calshot and Testwood

SQUEEZED households in the New Forest struggling to afford groceries will get more for their money thanks to a commitment by a food wholesaler to donate its surplus to community pantries.

One of Hampshire County Council's contracted suppliers, Bidford, will deliver unwanted items to hubs in Andover, Leigh Park, Basingstoke and Yateley, and from there they will be sent out to larders all over the county – including nine in the New Forest.

These facilities offer groceries at a lower cost than in supermarkets, helping those suffering financial hardship to make their budgets stretch further.

Cllr Roz Chadd, HCC’s deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services, said with the cost of food rising "significantly" it was more important than ever to help vulnerable residents.

She said: “We must continue to invest in this more affordable option for those struggling to feed themselves and their families.

"I’m pleased that we’ve been able to harness our relationship with Bidfood in this way, to further enhance how we support pantries and ensure they remain an attractive and effective choice.”

The extra food will be sent to the New Forest Basics Bank and Lymington Community Pantry at the Nedderman Centre in New Milton, and Fareshare mobile food larders at Marchwood Village Hall, Ashley Baptist Church and St Anne's Community Centre in Hythe.

Other locations are the Queen Elizabeth II Recreation Ground in Blackfield, St George's Hall in Calshot, Testwood Baptist Church, St Mark's Church in Pennington, and Ringwood Leisure Centre.

Gregory Newcome, Bidfood’s national account manager for the education sector, said: “We are delighted to be working with Hampshire County Council on their community pantry project.

"This is such a worthwhile enterprise and comes at a time when more and more people in our communities are needing to access help, as their finances are squeezed.”

HCC will also be working with its catering supplier HC3S to redirect surplus food to pantries.

For more information about available support, visit www.connect4communities.org