Hundreds of elderly and vulnerable people are set to receive some festive joy thanks to the kind-hearted work of a number of local charities.

The Crack On! Christmas food appeal has been launched across Suffolk and parts of Norfolk to ensure needy members of the community do not go hungry over the festive period.

As part of the appeal residents and businesses are being asked to donate any spare food they may have at designated collection points in Thetford. The food will then be made into parcels and delivered to households and groups in the area.

Last year a similar appeal saw more than five hundred vulnerable people receive food parcels.

Mark Byford, co-founder of Crack On!, the charity leading the appeal, said: “We are really stepping up the appeal this year and we hope to collect enough food for 5,000 people in Suffolk and Norfolk.

“Christmas can be a very difficult time for the most vulnerable people in our society and we hope this support will give them a little cheer and comfort during the festive season.

“This year we have received some large donations from local farmers and we would like to appeal to others in the area to do the same, and we encourage anyone who may have a little spare food sitting in their cupboards to think about donating it for someone who needs it more than them.”

The food is being collected at the Crack On! shops in Thetford and at collections in Sainsbury’s in Mildenhall. The charity is also in negotiations with several other stores, including those in Bury St Edmunds, to become designated collection points.

Once all the food has been collected it will be handed to a number of other charities including Leeways based in Ipswich, the Norfolk based Yes Group, the Thetford Food Bank and The Gatehouse in Bury St Edmunds, which will distribute the parcels within their communities.

For more information visit www.crackon.org.