A DUMBARTON primary school has raised 1,500 items to be donated to a local foodbank charity.

Knoxland Primary in the town’s Leven Street donated the products raised by the children’s parents to the West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare yesterday.

The school had a target of collecting 1,000 items, but they soon smashed their initial bid with donations of non-perishable food, wet wipes, nappies and pet food.

This was the first year that the school has donated using the reverse advent calendar, which encourages the public to give, instead of receiving in the countdown to Christmas.

It sees people collect one item a day, then donate it to the foodbank on Christmas Eve.

Helen Brown, headteacher at Knoxland Primary, said the school took part because “we knew there was such a demand for foodbanks at this time of the year”.

Gayle McCallum, whose son attends the school, organised the event with parental volunteers.

Mary Marra, whose grandson attends Knoxland Primary, is a representative of West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare and has be in to the school to speak about foodbanks.

Ms Brown told the Reporter: “I really thank our parents of the children and families for their help in this particular campaign.”