MINEHEAD friends Dan James and Chris Jones selflessness has been the catalyst for a huge demonstration that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in the town.

In 2018 the pair gained a lot of media attention with their plan to collect food for the West Somerset Food Cupboard.

They leafleted homes in advance and asked people to leave donations on their doorsteps, and this year their collection has been even bigger, helping the foodbank feed some of the area’s most vulnerable residents over the festive season.

Mr James said: “I think because people saw last year’s coverage, they knew what it was about this year and so we got even more donations.

“I think people are generally kind-hearted and want to help others, but they struggle to find the time.

“We make it simple and it seems to be working - the hard bit is leafleting the 3,000 houses, collecting the food is quite enjoyable.”

Dan said the main praise needs to go to The West Somerset Food Cupboard.

“They are the real heroes who are helping people all year round,” Mr James said.

Ann Gibbs, the West Somerset Food Cupboard co-ordinator said the donations were most welcome at the busiest time of the year for the foodbank.

“Demand is huge over Christmas as we need to make sure vulnerable people are catered for the festive period,” Mrs Gibbs said.

“Where in an average week we would probably pack 30 to 40 food parcels, we will do up to 200 in the lead up to Christmas.

“We are fortunate that we are inundated with donations at this time of year, and Dan and Chris’s work means we don’t have to do top-up shopping ourselves.”

Mrs Gibbs said the Food Cupboard is making up special Christmas parcels with Christmas puddings, mince pies, hams, selection boxes and biscuits for those in need.

She said some of the key factors behind Foodbank use locally were people struggling during the transition from the former benefits system to Universal Credit, and the seasonal nature of many jobs in Minehead.

“Demand has stayed quite steady this year, dropping slightly, but I thought it would drop considerably more given there is now the Quantock Foodbank up and running covering much of Williton, Watchet and the surrounding rural area,” Mrs Gibbs said.

“This is a low income area generally and many people are struggling to make ends meet, even some of those who are working.”

Mrs Gibbs said the Foodbank currently had a lot of pasta and beans, but would really appreciate donations of tinned potatoes and cold tinned meats.

To find out more about the West Somerset Food Cupboard, visit their Facebook page.