TOGETHER pupils at one Southampton school have collected 2,500 tins of food to help the city's most needy.

The youngsters at Redbridge Community School brought in the tins of beans, spaghetti, meat and other items for the St Dismas project centre in St Mary's. One class alone collected 180 tins. Richard Schofield, headteacher of the 776-pupil school, said he was really pleased with the response.

"We hope that in some way we have managed to help a very worthy local shelter."

The centre, based in Cranbury Avenue, helps the homeless, people with mental health problems and those with difficulties getting welfare benefits.