Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, dropped into Haslemere’s Tesco branch in Lion Green with a donation for the supermarket’s annual winter Neighbourhood Food Collection

The project is run in partnership with the food distribution charity FareShare and Foodbank charity Trussell Trust.

Mr Hunt, the town’s Tory MP, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Tesco staff and customers and learn more about this initiative.

“It is such a great project where a small food donation can make a big difference to people’s lives. The volume of food items donated each week by Haslemere Tesco customers is remarkable and I am sure, much appreciated.”

Thanking her MP for his support, Haslemere Tesco community champion Anita Cumber said: “This is the ninth collection Tesco have run nationally, and in the Haslemere store the generosity of our customers and colleagues is outstanding.

“Tesco also top up any donations by 20 per cent of the total collected, which helps the charities grow and importantly means Tesco does not profit from any donation purchased on items donated.”