EAST Lothian Foodbank is spreading some extra Christmas cheer through its very own Jingle Bags.

The bags contain all the essentials needed for Christmas dinner and will be handed to everyone who is referred to them in December.

Last December, the Foodbank provided 175 three-day emergency food parcels to people in crisis in East Lothian, feeding 473 people, 204 of whom were children.

A spokesperson said: “Christmas is a particularly hard time for those struggling financially, and struggling to feed themselves and their families. The number of referrals we receive generally go up in winter, with a significant increase in the two weeks before Christmas.

“In addition to the standard food parcels we give out at this time of year we’ve always tried to supplement with some seasonal extras: mince pies, Christmas puddings, chocolates and biscuits. This year we would like to take this further and provide all those who are referred to us in the run up to Christmas a Jingle Bag.

“Containing everything needed for Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and delivered to their door, we hope these will bring some Christmas cheer to families experiencing food poverty at Christmas.”

The Foodbank welcomes donations for Jingle Bags. Since the bags will be distributed from the start of December they ask that all items are non-perishable.

Required are: tinned chicken/turkey; tinned potatoes, carrots, sweetcorn; packet mash, gravy, bread sauce; stuffing; Christmas pudding; custard; mince pies; biscuits; chocolates, selection boxes; Christmas snacks, crackers.

Donations can be handed in to the Foodbank at 3 Civic Square, Tranent.

Local guiding groups and schools are creating festive labels for each Jingle Bag.