A RECYCLING company has been raising vital cash and collecting food donations for people in need.

CSH Environmental, based in Wormingford, has raised £600 for homeless charity Emmaus Colchester and Colchester Foodbank.

The cash and food donations will go to families who need extra support at Christmas.

Beverley Cave, company accountant at the firm, said: “For myself and my colleague, Julie, who have been going out buying the food and toys, it has hit home how lucky we are.

“I struggled going around the shops trying to find items from the food list and the cost of tinned meat really shocked me.”

Emmaus Colchester is asking for a selection of items for children up to 16-years-old including unopened and unused toys, stationery, books, toiletries, sweets and gift vouchers.

Gifts can be donated unwrapped at Emmaus Colchester’s New Life shop in Crouch Street until December 7.

The shop is open for donations between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

Families who are referred to Colchester Foodbank will receive a voucher which they can take to the New Life café between December 9 and 14 and collect a gift bag.