MORE donations of food and support have been welcomed by Thurrock's Foodbank service.

Business co-ordinator Sandra Sawle has expressed her thanks to Surag Sayania and Nirav Tailor of Shree Sai Trading Limited in Tilbury who delivered items weighing 627.2kg, with Sandra saying: "We have already started distributing some of the chocolates and biscuits to our clients. Your generosity is amazing - thank you."

Mr Sayania says: "We are committed to giving back to the community. It's pleasure to help our Thurrock Foodbank for doing the fantastic job they do."

Also arriving with a significant donation of food was the Next Distribution Warehouse in South Ockendon, with Sandra saying: "Thank you so much to all the colleagues who donated," while Community Dental Services have delivered a donation of toothbrushes and toothpastes and dental health information leaflets.

The Thurrock branch has also taken delivery of a new Ford Transit Luton van funded by the National Lottery, with Sandra adding: "Thanks to Trust Ford Dagenham and Ford Motor Company for their help in the purchase of this van. It is already proving to be such a blessing to us, as we are able to reduce the number of journeys across the borough as we continue to provide hope and bless those in Thurrock struggling at this time.

"With many thanks also to Dean, Tania, Jud and Devon of VinylGrafx for their artwork on the van."

Over Easter the Foodbank received a huge number of eggs for distribution to local good causes and some were given out by the team at Thurrock's Community House, where youth worker and Prince's Trust team leader Tom Flynn said: "Big Thanks to Thurrock Foodbank and all the people who donated. I was able to put smiles on the faces of children, young people and the wider community.