Families struggling on the breadline this Christmas will receive the gift of food thanks to a donation from council staff.

Staff at Hertsmere Borough Council donated hundreds of kilograms of groceries to Borehamwood Foodbank.

Chief officers donned reindeer ears and pushed a festive trolley around the Civic Centre in Elstree Way to collect staff donations.

More than 300 kilograms of items, ranging from tinned food, pasta, breakfast cereals, biscuits to festive mince pies and chocolates, were presented to the Foodbank at St Teresa's Church Hall in Shenley Road.

Without donations, the organisation would not be able to help hundreds of families struggling to put food on the table.

Chairman of Borehamwood Foodbank Kristan Payn said: "We have provided food packs, which provides enough food for three days, to about a thousand families since starting in June.”

“We’re very grateful to all the staff at Hertsmere Borough Council for supporting us. Without their help and the help of the public and businesses, we would not be able to feed people in need.

“Some people are struggling to pay their rent and fuel bills, it’s often a choice between doing that and putting food in the cupboard.”

Chief executive for Hertsmere Borough Council Donald Graham said staff were keen to support the Foodbank.

He added: “As a council we work hard to try to support people and work with other organisations to help families with financial issues within our community.

“I was so proud of the amount of food donated during the three days of collections. Our staff donated a staggering amount of food to the Foodbank, they are a credit to the council.

“We hope the food donations go some way to help those people in real need this Christmas.”