CHARITIES are being urged to sign up to the first unsold food distribution service in the region at Bicester's new Tesco.

The town's new superstore, being built off the A41 Oxford Road, will be the first in the county to give away surplus fruit, vegetables, bakery goods, meat dairy and ready meals.

The announcement comes as final preparations for the store are being put in place ahead of officially opening on Thursday, April 14.

Bicester Foodbank, based in Market Square, has been in the town for 11 years and is funded entirely by donations.

Spokesman Richard Mallows said: "Tesco and its Bicester staff have been long-term partners and supporters of the food bank activity for a number of years in many ways."

The superstore's pledge to hand out unsold products will cut food waste and help to provide meals for vulnerable people across the town.

It will be done through a scheme called Fareshare FoodCloud - an electronic app which records surplus unsold food at the end of each day.

This will include fresh produce and chilled foods which will be handed out to local community groups or charities.

Bicester Tesco store manager Paul Phillips said: "No food that can be eaten should go to waste.

"We are really excited to start working on this initiative to ensure that any unsold food we have is made use of.

"We are looking forward to forging strong links with local charities and community groups in Bicester, and to using this initiative to support their efforts to help vulnerable people in our community."

A pilot scheme was hosted at 14 stores across the country, which resulted in 22 tonnes of food being donated to more than 50 charities - 50,000 meals.

Charities and community groups are being urged to sign up for the scheme ahead of the new store opening at 8am.

The store is being built to replace the existing store in Pingle Drive and is set to bring 120 new jobs to the town.

It will be part of the 60,000sqm business park being built off the A41 Oxford Road and will include a hotel and 1,837-space car park.

The existing store will be demolished to make way for an expansion of Bicester Village designer shopping outlet.

To register for the scheme contact lizzy.clarke@fareshare.org.uk