Co-operative members have been thanked for helping to keep a foodbank's van on the road after they raised more than £75,000 to help food banks and those who rely on their services.

The donation will be shared between 75 food banks which are currently supported by customers' goods donations in Southern Co-op's retail and funeral care branches, including three in Wiltshire.

Maria Stevenson, Salisbury Foodbank manager, said: "There are a couple of projects within Salisbury Foodbank where funding is essential.

For example, keeping our van on the road. Our van is on the road five days a week. With such a large outreach area and increase and fluctuations in fuel prices, we are spending in excess of £100 a month in fuel cost. Nine-hundred pounds would go some way to support this lifeline for our charity.”

Members of Southern Co-op have also made it possible for more than £26,000 to be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee's Ukraine Humanitarian appeal from the Share of the Profits scheme and Southern Co-op donations based on the number of members attending the annual general meeting and voting in the board election.