HIGH Street bakery, Greggs is handing out free food to people in need across Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge as part of a community food scheme.

Hands of Change, a community group based in Burnham, collects unwanted food from Greggs and Lidl stores in the town at the end of each day and volunteer delivery drivers take the food to residents in the area who are struggling to afford or get access to food.

The group, which is run by volunteers, has been running the scheme for just seven weeks and now helps between 30 and 40 families a week.

Kay Barrett, chairman of Hands of Change, said the scheme is making a real difference to families in need.

"We all get so emotional but we get great pleasure from doing this, it's such an uplifting experience" she said.

"So many families are being helped each day and for the families we have helped it can be life changing.

"We pick up surplus food and deliver it to families in the area five days a week and all of this is done by our special buddy teams, who are made up of volunteers from the town."

Kay said the group was inspired to set up the scheme after hearing that elderly residents, hard-up families and homeless people living in the area were struggling to get food.

"It took a few weeks but after getting the go-ahead from Greggs we got some volunteers together and now it has become a regular thing" she said.

"It was saddening to hear that people were struggling and we knew we had to do something to help."

"It really is a team effort and I would like to say thank you not only to our special buddy teams who are working on this but to Lidl and Greggs for their kindness and to Highbridge Foodbank for displaying information for us.

"It helps people who need food the most to get in touch with us."

Kay said she hopes the scheme will continue to go from strength to strength and that they can continue to help more families in need.

For more information about the scheme visit facebook.com and search 'Hands of Change'.