A mum was so "heart-wrenched" when she heard about a school setting up a food bank she set about a mission – to provide Christmas dinners for 50 cash-strapped families.

Sara Spellman started a Crowdfunder campaign and within days had exceeded her £550 target to provide turkey and all the trimmings for those struggling to put a hot meal on the table.

She was emotionally moved when she read a Facebook appeal from Steph Hammond, head teacher of Luton Infant Nursery School, Chatham, to make the festive season a little brighter for her pupils and their families.

The 35-year-old also read the story on KentOnline and within an hour had settled on her challenge to come up with the goods before the end of term.

The teacher, who lives in Twydall with her 10-year-old son Sam, said: "To say I was shocked is an understatement. I was heart-wrenched and thought what can I do?"

She collected some toys and took them to the head and then felt "compelled to do more".

"While chatting to Steph, hearing how this is the most deprived school in Medway, it occurred to me that I can do something to alleviate Christmas hardship, hunger and sadness this year with the community's help," she said.

"So with only a few days left until we could deliver to the school, I wanted families to be able to pick up their children and a Christmas dinner and desert and toys for their children too."

Tesco delivered 50 bags, including turkey joints, a bag of potatoes, sprouts broccoli, carrots, stuffing and Christmas pud to the school in Alexandra Road on Tuesday, they day they broke up.

And, with the money still rolling in, she plans to donate any extra to the food bank in the new year.

Sara, who teaches at a school in Sevenoaks, said: "With so much negativity around it is heart-warming to see how the community and complete strangers got behind this."

She intends to collect the money from the website after the festive season, having already used her overdraft to pay for the festive food.

Mrs Hammond said: "A big thank you to everyone.

"Nobody should have to go without, especially at Christmas."

At the time of publishing, the figure raised was £865.

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