Free and low-cost food is been given to people in desperate need through a new project in West Cumbria.

This week FareShare, a national scheme that tackles hunger and food waste, has been launched in Copeland and Allerdale.

It means that charities and community groups can buy in-date surplus food from the food industry and pass it on to people who need it.

Organisations that have signed up to the scheme are either giving the food away for free, asking for donations or using items for community lunches and hampers.

In Whitehaven, Christians Against Poverty, St Nicholas Centre and Mirehouse Community Centre have signed up.

In Workington, the Northside Community Centre have also got on board.

Cumbria County Council has been working with FareShare to enable roll out in Copeland, and has been supported by a grant from Copeland Local Committee.

Maria Hewitt, the county's community development officer said: "FareShare is a food redistribution programme whereby quality, in date, surplus food is redistributed to Community Food Members (CFMs) on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis at a low cost."

The first FareShare delivery took place at the Copeland collection point at Cleator Moor Library this week.

The scheme is set to make a big impact on people seeking help from the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) centre in Whitehaven.

Mildred Lanstead, of CAP in Whitehaven, said the organisation is giving food from Fareshare to people free-of-charge.

CAP's shopping list includes items such as tea, pasta sauce and cereal.

Mildred said: "It means that when CAP gives items to people they can use the money they would have spent on food to pay off more debt."

She said 11 families have registered for help with them.

"We are absolutely enthralled because of the way it's been received by the people," said Mildred.

She added that people in the church community is paying CAP's costs for the scheme.

At St Nicholas Centre, on Lowther Street, food baskets will be available every Wednesday from 2pm until 3pm. People can take what they need, and give a donation. No booking is required.

Food is going to be used in numerous ways at Mirehouse Community Centre.

Katrina MacEwan, centre treasurer, said: "The majority of it is going to be for the lunch club when have on a Friday. The excess is going to be used for little hampers for local families. Any excess after that would then go to the local Foodbanks."