Co-written by Aaron Griffin

WINCHESTER Round Table is collecting food supplies for a city charity.

Members are taking Santa's Sleigh, usually seen across the district in December, and asking for tins, jars and hygiene products.

This will be given to Winchester Basics Bank, which distributes emergency food to those who really need it in the local community.

During the Covid-19 crisis, the organisation has seen a sharp increase in the demand for its services.

Member of the Winchester Round Table, Glen Taylor, said that: “The collections will be happening between 7-8pm in different areas of the city each evening. The aim of these collections is to support the broader community around Winchester by supporting the Basics Bank.

In order to adhere to the Government's social distancing measures, the Round Table have asked that people leave donations on their doorstep, at end of their front garden or at the end of their drive, loose or in a plastic bag.

The 19 members of the Winchester Round Table will be volunteering to make this collection service happen over the coming weeks, with no more than three members volunteering each night.

The members will be wearing masks and gloves while collecting the donations and at no point will there be any required contact with others during the collections.

Glen added: “The Round Table want to use this as an example of what can be done around Winchester during this time to help the most vulnerable in our community.”

The Round Table will be collecting: April 24 across Winnall; April 27 across Olivers Battery and Pitt Village; April 28 across St Cross; April 29 across Stanmore and Battery Hill; April 30 across Teg Down; May 1 across Highcliffe.

See the charity's website for timings and which streets the sleigh will be heading down.

Here is a list of products that will be accepted: UHT milk, tinned potatoes/packets of mashed potatoes, tinned vegetables, tinned fruit, pasta/curry sauces, rice (in bags or microwaveable pouches), marmite/peanut butter, jam/honey, tinned pasta, Fray Bentos pies, custard, rice pudding, dog/cat food (part used bags of dried food accepted), hygiene products, general-purpose cleaning spray, washing-up liquid, non-bio washing tablets, toothpaste/toothbrushes, shampoo, nappies.