TWEEDDALE charities and community groups are being sought to benefit from a supermarket’s food donation scheme.

The search has been launched by Tesco as it announced that over 4,000 items of food have already been donated to those in need across the Borders.

The food has been given away as part of the roll-out of Tesco’s surplus food redistribution scheme Community Food Connection.

All of the supermarket’s stores are able to provide surplus food every night.

In Scotland, the initiative has already seen two million meals donated to local groups including homeless shelters, community centres, breakfast clubs, and groups providing food to vulnerable older people.

The Community Food Connection programme is run in conjunction with FareShare and FoodCloud.

The good causes are able to link up with local Tesco stores via an app that allows store teams to alert them to surplus unsold food items available at the end of each day. The scheme has prevented unsold food going to waste.

Tony McElroy, head of communications for Tesco in Scotland, said: “We know that Community Food Connection is making a real difference to communities in Scotland by providing people in need with meals from food that would otherwise go to waste.

“Now that all of our stores are taking part in Community Food Connection there are more opportunities than ever for groups to benefit from the free food provided under the scheme.

“I would invite any group that thinks they could benefit from the scheme to contact FareShare, as we have the capacity to help even more good causes.”

Tweeddale groups interested can visit http://fareshare.org.uk/getting-food/fareshare-go-support/ to register.