A SLIMMING group has been digging deep in their cupboards and stepping up their Christmas shopping this to help out those less fortunate.

Cherry Orchard and Redhill slimming world groups ran a homeless Christmas gift bag hand out on Saturday.

For the past five weeks members have been gathering items for packages to give out to homeless people.

These were handed out at Mission Church, St John's through the Good Soil Trust.

Sam Crosswell who runs the groups said: "I would so like to praise my members of the Cherry Orchard and Redhill slimming world groups for their generosity in helping me achieve the 50 gift bag target as well as all the coats and jumpers they donated (plus extras going to Maggs day centre and the food bank)"

Ms Crosswell said: "People were so grateful, all the homeless people couldn't thank us enough. We all got hugs and kisses. I went to Maggs the next day and they had all heard about it, people had been coming in with their bags they got from us."

With the gift bags, coats and jumpers and donations to Maggs day centre and Worcester food bank over five weeks, Cherry Orchard Slimming World group with help from Redhill slimming world group collected almost £1,000 of goods.

Ms Crosswell said it was: "An amazing achievement considering I only have just over 100 members at this time of the year"

The group has decided its next act of charity will be a sleeping bag drive in the new year.

Each bag contained socks, gloves, hat, wet wipes, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush, a tin of beans, a chocolate or treat item, a box of mince pies, a Christmas cracker and handmade Christmas card. There was also ladies bags which had a scarf and sanitary products.