Food banks across the North of England have benefited from a PR and Communications agency’s generosity after bosses decided to replace corporate gifting with charitable giving.

32West was keen to support the communities in which is has bases, so team members piled the trolleys high with items of food most needed by people who will struggle this Christmas.

Hundreds of kilos of food was then delivered to foodbanks in Barrow-in-Furness, Carlisle, Newcastle, Liverpool and Workington.

Frank Stretton, a director at 32West, said: “Traditionally at Christmas we buy gifts for our clients as a way of thanking them for their support over the year.

“This year, in light of the current climate we felt a different approach was appropriate, so decided we should direct those funds to the people who are most in need.

“It came as no surprise that when we told our clients, they were 100 per cent supportive and more than happy to forgo a festive gift so those less fortunate in our communities could be supported.”

The cost-of-living crisis is driving food banks to “breaking point” with almost 1.3 million emergency parcels given to people in hunger over just six months, The Trussell Trust said in November.

That saw need outstripping donations for the first time in its history, forcing the charity to launch an emergency appeal to ensure foodbanks can meet the alarming level of need in their communities.

Figures revealed one in five individuals referred to its network were from working households.

Frank said: “We would encourage everyone to do what they can to support those in their community who need a bit of support, especially over the festive period”.