The Big Christmas Give helps people in need this festive season

Volunteers Emma Hampton, Lynda Groves and Claire Reed packing hampers for Leeway (Image: Archant)

The Big Christmas Give took place at Avenue Junior School, in Avenue Road, Norwich, on Saturday and saw people young and old donate a huge array of festive treats and other foods for those in need over the festive season.

Claire Read, who organised The Big Christmas Give, said: 'It was a fantastic day. We collected so much.

'Last time we collected about three quarters of a tonne and I think we have as much, if not more, this time.

'We had four cars full to the ceilings.'

Clive Lewis with some of the big give volunteers (Image: Archant)

She added: 'We had children come to The Big Christmas Give who had spent their pocket money on donations. It was really sweet.

'Lots of local families came out to help.

'It was amazing. Everyone was really generous.'

A team of volunteers oversaw the collection and they were joined by Norwich South MP Clive Lewis and city councillor Karen Davis who has just been selected as Labour's new parliamentary candidate for Norwich North.

Labour MP for Norwich South Clive Lewis arrives on his bike to lend a hand (Image: Archant)

The donations collected at The Big Christmas Give will be divided between four different causes.

They are: Norwich Open Christmas, which provides free Christmas dinners at St Andrew's Hall to anyone who is homeless or alone on December 25; Norwich Foodbank; Great Yarmouth Foodbank; and Norwich-based domestic abuse charity Leeway.

All of the donations will be delivered to the good causes by Monday.

Ms Read said that the Friends of Heigham Park also brought in £30 which they had raised from their carol service, and that that this is being donated to Leeway.

She said: 'A huge thank you to the very generous people of Norwich.

'We will be doing The Big Christmas Give again next year.'

For more information, find The Big Christmas Give on Facebook.