A food bank will be able to increase the support it gives to the poorest in society thanks to a “deeply generous” donation from a synagogue. 

Radlett and Bushey Reform Synagogue this morning presented a cheque for £4,649.71 to Borehamwood Foodbank.

The synagogue’s congregation raised the money as part of its New Year appeal and Tesco supermarket added a further donation, bringing the total to £6,000.

Associate Rabbi Celia Surget visited the food bank in St Teresa’s Church in Shenley Road to present the cheque and find out more about its work.

She said: "It is a humbling experience seeing the volunteers provide this much-needed service, which we as a congregation are very happy to support."

During the visit, the foodbank’s chairman Kristan Payne explained a large number of their clients were families waiting for their benefits to come through, which due to rule changes were now taking longer than they used to.

The foodbank feeds around 50 people a week and has seen a steady increase in the number of people needing its services.

Ms Payne said: “I am profoundly grateful to the synagogue for thinking of us like this.

“We are very thankful for the support we have received from the synagogue as well as the other synagogues and churches in the area.

“We only received the donation this morning so we don’t yet know how we will spend it, but it will certainly be put to good use.

“We’ve been very busy this year so far and are thinking of employing a part time member of staff to help us cope with the demand.”