LIDL Dumbarton is donating thousands of its fresh fruit and vegetables back to NHS staff across the area.

The moves comes as an effort to help provide frontline health workers with fresh produce, and comes through the retailer’s partnership with the Royal Voluntary Service, which is committed to supporting those who need it most in hospitals and communities across Scotland.

Christian Härtnagel, CEO at Lidl GB, said: “We are so grateful to the NHS and all of its staff for their hard work every day to help keep the nation safe.

"This is our small gesture to say thank you, and help provide NHS staff, who may not be able to get into store regularly for basic groceries, with fresh fruit and vegetables.

“We hope that through working with Royal Voluntary service to donate these bags to hospitals, we can help make a difference to their daily life.”

Sam Ward, director of services at Royal Voluntary Service added: “It’s our mission to give support to those who need it in the community and in hospitals and we commend the country’s brilliant NHS staff in all the important work they are doing during this challenging situation.”

The news follows Lidl’s recent announcement that it will be rolling out its customer food donation boxes in its stores as part of its Feed it Back scheme, and donating £100,000 to its partnership with Neighbourly, to help vulnerable people and children.