CUSTOMERS at the Budgens store in Wheddon Cross are taking part in the area's first virtual harvest celebration.

Owner Anthony Gardiner (pictured) has brought the age-old tradition into the 21st century in aid of the West Somerset Food Cupboard charity.

Instead of collecting canned food donations at harvest festival time, Anthony is encouraging customers to take a £1 coupon to the till which can be scanned alongside their shopping.

The coupon acts as a donation to the charity and can be used from now until October 6.

All the money raised during the month-long virtual harvest will be used by the food cupboard to buy fresh and fruit and vegetables for their clients.

Anthony said: "A true harvest festival is all about fresh food so I wanted to make it easy for my shoppers to donate.

"By having the collection in store it also helps to raise awareness of our local food bank, which is always looking for donations to feed hungry families in the community.

"Collecting virtual money to be turned into fruit and vegetables brings the harvest up-to-date and makes the process of donating easy for everyone involved."

Christine Payne of the West Somerset Food Cupboard said she was delighted the shop had chosen to support the charity.

"Every year harvest-time becomes further and further removed from our lives, with many of the younger generations not knowing what it stands for.

"Thanks to Budgens, the harvest festival has been brought up-to-date to the 21st century, allowing local people to donate useful food to our cause."

Photo: Steve Guscott