Aldi is calling on charities, community groups, and food banks in Wiltshire to register for surplus food donations this Christmas.

The supermarket giant has opened applications for their festive food donations scheme, which aims to assist those in need during the holiday season.

This is part of Aldi's year-round initiative in partnership with community giving platform Neighbourly.

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However, the festive season offers an opportunity for even more charities to benefit, as all Aldi stores will remain closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.

The charities will be paired with Aldi stores and will be able to collect fresh and chilled food products that are nearing the end of their shelf life.

Aldi UK’s national sustainability director, Luke Emery, said: "We know that the services provided by our incredible charity partners are needed now more than ever.

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"That’s why we are dedicated to providing as much support as possible for the communities we serve this Christmas."

Steve Butterworth, chief executive officer at Neighbourly, added: "Christmas can be a challenging time for some families, and we expect many will depend on the services of local charities this year.

"We’re sure there are lots more groups out there that could use the extra help that businesses like Aldi provide, so we encourage them to sign up."

Any groups interested in collecting unsold food at Christmas, who are not currently working with Neighbourly, are encouraged to contact the platform by November 8.

In addition to the Christmas initiative, Aldi provides community donation points in all stores for customers to donate food or household products to causes throughout the year.

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Neighbourly is a platform which assists businesses in making a positive impact. This includes volunteering, donations, and giving away surplus products to different causes.

Founded in 2014, the platform has facilitated over £780 million of impact to different communities across the UK, and set a further goal to deliver £1 billion of positive impact by 2025.