by Hayley Robinson

More than 400 tins were donated to a harvest festival campaign – the largest amount ever received by The Forum shopping centre since it launched the scheme three years ago.

Tinned items ranging from baked beans to tinned pineapple and coffee to cereal were dropped into the Purple Peach cafe between September 4 and 30.

The collection was in aid of Sittingbourne’s Nightstop – a charity which provides emergency accommodation for homeless 16- to 25-year-olds in the town.

Donations came not only from shoppers but also Bapchild and Tonge C of E Primary School, Westlands Primary School, St Peter’s Catholic Primary School and the town’s Brownies.

The goods were presented to Maureen Herbert, support worker of the charity, at the shopping centre on Tuesday.

She said: "We are overwhelmed with the response we have received – the food will go a long way in supporting the homeless in the Sittingbourne area.

"We rely on donations in order to continue to be able to provide those in need with food and I want to thank all of those who were kind enough to make a contribution."

Centre manager Colin Bell said: "It was fantastic to see so many people from the local community making donations in an effort to improve the lives of others in Sittingbourne."