PLAYERS from Worcester Warriors have thrown their weight behind a Christmas campaign to help fund the Worcester foodbank.

Chris Pennell and Justin Clegg made the first donations for the club's annual campaign - and the goodies will be given to the foodbank in time for Christmas.

Collection boxes will be placed outside the East Stand and West Stand entrances at Sixways at today's Premiership match against Harlequins and again for the European Challenge Cup match against Pau on December 15.

A collection box will also be placed in the main reception at the stadium so that supporters, suppliers and visitors can support the initiative on non-matchdays.

Mr Clegg said: “This is something really important.

"As a club we are very keen to give something back to the local community."

“It’s important that we recognise that there are people who are not as fortunate as we are as professional sportsmen.

"We are all in this together and the more we can help them, the better, particularly with Christmas coming.

He added: “The boys love getting out into the community and being a part of the community.”

The foodbank has issued a shopping list of items it needs in the run up to Christmas.

The list includes festive items such as Christmas puddings, mince pies, tinned custard, Christmas cake, new toys and children’s gifts, cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy as well as good quality tins of ham, turkey, sausages and potatoes.

However, the organisation also needs other urgently-needed items include strong carrier bags, coffee, fruit juice (long-life), milk (long-life), tinned rice, peanut butter, crackers, washing powder, shampoo, toilet cleaner, toilet rolls, sponge puddings, tinned fruit and tin openers.

Grahame Lucas, Worcester Foodbank Manager, said: "There’s no better time of year for us to count our blessings and share some of them with families and individuals whose only Christmas wish is to not go hungry.”