FLIXTON Girls School's Harvest House Competition culminated in donations of more than half a ton of food - equating to 1,500 food meals - to Stretford Food Bank.

Students and staff from the school created a competition out of their Harvest Festival, to see which forms and houses could bring in the most goods.

Donations were then handed over Stretford Foodbank for their support of families in and around Manchester.

Culture committee members from each form coordinated the donations each morning, visiting form rooms to collect the donations from friends and family of the school's students.

Foodbank manager, Paul Guest, said: "We have been greatly impressed by the support of the girls and the staff at FGS. It is always encouraging when young people take on the social issues of the day and this they have done to their credit.

"Sadly, our statistics show that in the past 12 months, 512 children under the age of 16 have received help from our foodbank.

"The three main reasons people attend the foodbank are benefit delays, low-income and benefit changes.

"Alarmingly low-income families are on the increase.

"I would like to thank everyone for their support over this Harvest period."