Nearly 300 Christmas hampers were donated to needy families last weekend thanks to a committed group of volunteers.

Christmas Lunch on Jesus, run by the Doxa Deo Christian Church in Raynes Park, gathered at the David Lloyd Centre in Bushey Road to hand out 290 hampers on Saturday, December 22.

Over £7,000 was raised to distribute the hampers, which included a 4kg turkey, carrots, potatoes, mince pies and a CD.

Ian Jacobs, from Doxa Deo, said this outreach scheme began in 2007 in North London, raising money for thousands of homes, and was started in Raynes Park for the first time this year.

He said: “We want to thank all the volunteers, the sponsors, the packers, the drivers, David Lloyd, and [Wimbledon] MP Stephen Hammond who helped to distribute during the morning.

“Doxa Deo is a church who want to see community transformation, being a blessing to the community around us and that blessing overflowing to the city.”