A supermarket has called on charities and community groups to join its campaign against food waste.

The Community Food Connection, run by Tesco in partnership with FareShare, allows such organisations to collect surplus food from its stores.

The food is free and includes fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables, bakery products and chilled food like meat, cheese and ready meals.

Since launching in February 2016, the scheme has helped provide more than 6,000 meals across Harrow and has benefitted a number of charities including the Tudor Club and Harrow Rethink Support Group.

Jez Butwell, Store Director from Tesco Express Rayners Lane, said: “At Tesco we have no time for waste.

“We’re so proud to already support local charities and community groups through Community Food Connection from our larger stores in Harrow and to be able to extend that support to our convenience stores is fantastic.

“We are looking forward to forging more strong links with local charities and community groups in Harrow, and supporting their efforts to help more vulnerable people in our community.”

Tesco has stated its commitment to ensure no food fit for human consumption will go to waste from their UK retail operations and intends to implement the programme in all its stores by the end of 2017.