LOCAL charities and food banks could receive free donations through a new scheme at Aldi in Saltcoats.

Aldi has launched its festive food donations scheme and is calling on charities and food banks to register so that they can receive a free donation this Christmas.

Through the scheme, the Saltcoats store will aim to redistribute all its surplus fresh food to local charities on Christmas Eve.

Aldi is hoping this year’s scheme will surpass the 450,000 meals donated to more than 300 charities across the UK last Christmas.

Charities should contact Aldi’s Corporate Responsibility team at christmas@ aldi.co.uk before Sunday, November 18 with the following details to apply: organisation name, charity number, organisation focus (e.g. soup kitchen, food bank), contact details, postcode of the three nearest Aldi stores (using the Aldi store finder at https://www.aldi.co.uk/store-finder).

All charities that apply must be able to collect, store and distribute fresh food. Each store can be partnered with one charity only, and the pairings will be allocated on a first come first served basis.