Families struggling to put food on the table this Christmas can receive a boost from a new food distribution centre which has launched in Wymondham.

Wymondham Rotary Club, in association with the town's churches, opened a new branch of the Norwich Foodbank at Wymondham Baptist Church yesterday.

The distribution centre offers individuals, couples and families who fall into financial crisis a chance to obtain enough healthy food to sustain themselves for three days.

Frontline care professionals are responsible for identifying those in most need of donations and they are provided with vouchers which are then exchanged for food boxes at their nearest distribution centre.

As well as handing out the boxes, volunteers at the Wymondham centre will also use its opening hours to collect donations and are encouraging people to look through their kitchen cupboards for suitable items.

All details relating to those who receive food from the distribution centre remain confidential and volunteers can help point people in the direction of other organisations or agencies who may be able to provide further support.

The centre will open every Monday - except Bank Holidays - between 2.15pm and 3.45pm.

Mike Bush, of Wymondham Rotary Club, said despite Wymondham appearing a fairly affluent town, he was aware of families who had contacted their local Citizens' Advice Bureau and churches after struggling to pay for food.

'It's easily done - you just need a sudden death in the family or you could get made redundant,' he said.

'This is a nice venture for a community like Wymondham. This is something members wanted to do and its fits in with the Rotary ethic - service above self.

Items suitable for donation include tinned vegetables, fruit and meat, tea bags and coffee, pasta, carton fruit juice, sugar, breakfast cereals and UHT milk, as well as baby food and nappies.

If you would like to volunteer, donate or raise funds, or for any other information, go to www.networknorwich.co.uk and go to the Norwich Foodbank section.