A woman who rescues unwanted food from landfill and transforms it into delicious meals is hosting free hot dinners for anyone to enjoy. 

Sheila Carlisle, who lives in Grenfell Close in Borehamwood, is expanding her social initiative Gratitude to run a weekly lunch club at St Teresa’s Parish Hall in Shenley Road.

The community cooking sessions take place on Wednesdays between 11am and 1pm.

People can bring their own groceries and share the cooking, or simply help eat the fresh fruit and vegetables Mrs Carlisle is given by greengrocers and supermarkets across the town.

Mrs Carlisle hopes to reach out to the people who come to Borehamwood Foodbank, which is held in the church hall on Monday and Thursday.

She said: “Many people receive food from the food bank such as tins and pasta, but they cannot afford the electricity to cook it.

“I would like people to come along and bring their groceries and we can help them transform the food into something delicious, although we have plenty of food for anyone who turns up.”

But she emphasised the community cooking sessions were in no way a handout, but those who came along were helping eat wasted food and could help prepare the food if they wished.

She said: “I am grateful to the people who eat my meals because they are helping to save the environment. Supermarkets throw thousands and thousands of tonnes of food away that has nothing wrong with it.

“I would like as many people as possible to come along and help eat this food rather than let it go to waste.”