THE campaign to ensure local families were able to eat Christmas lunch was hugely successful.

The Bridport Christmas Hampers and Stockings team gave away 77 hampers over the Christmas period, up from the 45 provided in the previous year, as well as 81 Christmas stockings – up from 68.

Thanks to the support of the Bridport community, the initiative, operated by Bridport Team Ministry and the Cupboard Love food bank, was able to provide vulnerable families in the area with fresh meat, vegetables and fruit for their Christmas dinners, along with fun items and toys in the stockings for the children to play with on Christmas Day.

A spokesman for the campaign said: "The effects of the virus on our community has meant a very difficult year for many and resulted in a demand for 77 hampers and 81 stockings. The virus also prevented us from holding our regular fundraising quiz so more than ever we were dependent on the generosity of the Bridport community - and you rose to the challenge!

"An amazing number of individual donations were made, including some via the ‘Just Giving’ page along with those from Bridport Round Table, Ladies Walking Group, Morrisons and Waitrose plus the support from local businesses R.J.Balson & Son and Washingpool Farm Shop.

"Packing the hampers was also very different because of the virus restrictions and thanks must go to the much reduced team of people who helped."