Discount retail group QD, which includes QD stores and Cherry Lane Garden Centres, has introduced food bank collection points to help generate more donations for local food banks.

Some 24 of its stores are taking part so far, including the QD store in Oakham which is collecting for Rutland Food Bank.

Following a surge in demand for food banks as a result of COVID-19, QD has introduced the food collections as part of the latest activity in its Value Our Planet strategy.

Launched in March, Value Our Planet is the group's commitment to being a responsible retailer, caring for the environment and world in which we live.

Customers are being invited to buy an extra item during their shop such as tinned goods or packaged food and drop it into the food bank collection point which is located in-store. The donations will be delivered by QD to the local food bank and distributed to those in need.

Nisha Collins, brand and events manager for the QD Group, said: "The past year has been incredibly tough for so many people. With the number of families and individuals using food banks as a result of the pandemic increasing by as much as 110%*, we wanted to do our bit to help.

"We're encouraging shoppers to pop an extra tin or two in their trolley if they can to help those who rely on the local food bank to get by. We are pleased to be running this in 24 stores initially and hope to roll it out shortly to the rest of the QD Group."