More than 50 Gloucestershire business have joined forces with Gloucester Quays Rotary Club to raise much-needed funds for Gloucester Foodbank.

The Rotary Club said the fundraising campaign began with an idea to fill one of SK Heating & Cooling Ltd's refrigeration trailers with food donations for the charity.

Donations added to the trailer would help to provide three days' nutritionally balanced emergency food to those in crisis. 

But once the trailer was full, the fundraising evolved to include a further cash donation to help Gloucester Foodbank support those in need over the Christmas period.

By the end of the challenge, SK Heating & Cooling Ltd and the Rotary Club had collected donations of close to £8,000.

"We have had some amazing support from a wide range of local businesses to help us reach this goal," said a spokesperson for SK Heating & Cooling.

Some of the biggest donations came from Barnwood Shopfitters, Gloucester Carpet Outlet, Davies & Partners Solicitors, EG Carter, 360 Automotive Ltd, BPE Solicitors and the OPCC Commissioners Fund.

Further generous contributions came from Gloucestershire businesses big and small, including Malvern Tyres, Randall & Payne, Electrical Solutions, Forge Motorsport, Severn Valley Woodworks, JEH Laundry, Brunsdons Insurance and Cooke Sheet Metal.

Support also came from Lane Pearson, 1-1 Recruitment, Gulley Electrical, Brace, Monster Clothing, TMS, Martyn Appleyard, Tayntons, The Appliance Broker, Elmrep, Citi Utilities, Falcon, RP Cooke, Ash & Co, Kingscott Dix, R & R Group, Westway IT, APM Fire & Security, Central Roofing, Cherry & White Hire and McGuinness Group.

And there were further donations from 123 Car and Commercial, C.I.S Builders, TG Sales & Lettings, Spa Security, Truscotts, Ultimate Accident Repairs, CGS, Direct Tyres, Paper Box, Hillside Brewery, Redbridge, AC Marketing Services, LR Business Services, Skyline Softwash, Protrack, KGR Wealth Management, Chris Mullins Tyres, Glevum Windows, Severn Signs and Smart Communications.