A food charity has revealed it saved enough food for more than half a million meals last year.

FareShare Kent, which collects unused food from supermarkets and distributes it to charities, refuges and hostels, prevented nearly 215 tonnes of food from going to waste last year - enough for 510,217 meals.

Its work helped to feed 12,210 people each week and saved 112 charities in the county nearly £885,000.

The Ashford-based depot revealed the statistics in recognition of World Hunger Day.

FareShare manager David Nelson said: “Food poverty can happen to anyone, and it can happen quickly.

"The charities we provide food to support those who have lost their homes, left the Armed Forces and struggled to adjust, escaped violent relationships, fallen into drug or alcohol misuse or simply can no longer cook for themselves.

“Food is the connector – when it’s joined with the life changing support services provided by our front line charity members, we know it’s the enabler to help get people back on their feet.”

Nationally, FareShare works with 500 companies across the food supply chain including supermarkets Tesco and Asda and manufacturers Kellogg’s and Nestlé,

It redistributes surplus food – often long before it reaches a supermarket shelf – because of forecasting errors, seasonal changes or damaged packaging.