VULNERABLE people are being helped by two local organisations with the support of a major supermarket.

Tesco, which has a branch in Auchinleck, has made a commitment nationally that, by the end of this year, no food will go to waste if it is still safe to eat.

A scheme was launched in February 2016, called Community Food Connection, which has now served up 54,933 meals in Ayrshire and 10million nationally.

Working in partnership with food redistribution charity FareShare, two of the community groups being helped are New Cumnock Baptist Church and Cumnock Academy Supported Learning Centre.

Every large Tesco store is taking part in the project, with a further 1,800 convenience stores nationwide also joining in the near future.

An app, called FoodCloud, lets groups know there is surplus food available at the end of each day — they can then collect and use the food to provide nutritious meals to those in need.

Working with FareShare, Tesco colleagues in Ayrshire have helped enlist local charities to join the initiative.

The scheme is already live in all large Tesco stores, and is currently rolling out to a further 1,800 convenience stores nationwide.

Tony McElroy, Tesco’s head of communications in Scotland, said: “It’s great to see the difference Community Food Connection is making by providing people in need with meals from food that would otherwise go to waste. We know that it frees up time and resources so that the charities using it can focus on offering other services. Our colleagues are playing an important role, too.”