����ý

A food charity is making a “desperate” plea for van drivers after its team was struck down by illness.

The UK-wide organisation has its Eastern base in Ipswich.

Volunteer manager for Sue Stenson said they had “several potentially long term illnesses that happened all at once”.

Drivers deliver food that would otherwise have gone to waste to charities across Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

“With those illnesses and a couple of injuries happening overnight, it could potentially mean we will struggle to get all our runs done to charities,” she said.

that collects surplus food and distributes it to organisations that can pass it on to their local community.

Ms Stenson said their four vans deliver to 150 charities across the eastern region.

“It can be pop up shops and pantries or children’s breakfast clubs - any charity with a food requirement.

“We go up to Hunstanton, over to Cambridge, and as far as Southend-on-Sea. We are passionate about making sure food doesn’t go to waste and go into landfill, and goes to those who need it most.”

She said her team of 42 volunteers and staff had been “very unfortunate” that several members had been affected by illness at the same time.

They are looking for volunteers to help drive vans and manage the warehouse deliveries.

Although it is unpaid, she said volunteers sometimes go on to become paid staff members.

“We’d prefer a clean driving licence, and some experience of driving a standard three tonne van. It is quite a manual role: it is warehouse work, drivers will be putting loads onto the van and taking it off at the other end.

“It's a desperate cry out to try and find people who could offer some time to us”, she said.

Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830