Aldi stores in Hampshire donated 34,800 meals to families in need during the summer holidays.

All stores in the area supported charities and food banks by redistributing surplus food through the community giving platform, Neighbourly.

Liz Fox, national sustainability director at Aldi UK, said: "We are so proud to work with such amazing charity partners across Hampshire and the work that they do can never be underestimated."

Research from Neighbourly found that 78 per cent of the good causes it supports had seen increased demand for services, with 45 per cent noticing a decrease in donations.

Steve Butterworth, CEO at Neighbourly, added: "We’re grateful to have Aldi’s support once again this year during what is often one of the busiest periods for our charities.

"Large donations like Aldi’s allow us to provide vital support to communities across the country who would otherwise miss out."