A Christmas CD made to help those in need in West Somerset has sold over half of its target and raised over £3,000 for the West Somerset Food Cupboard. Kind-hearted teenager Hannah Thompson from Wheddon Cross decided to record a CD to help feed people over Christmas.

The 14-year-old student at West Somerset College was inspired to help others after hearing about the number of hungry people in West Somerset.

Hannah’s mother, Jill Thompson said: “There’s been so much interest in the CDs and it’s great that we’ve sold so many.

“Hannah is very pleased, she’s just glad that she’s been able to help other people at a time when we usually concentrate on ourselves.

“We’re really grateful to everyone who has bought a copy and to everyone who helped make the CD or has sold them.”

Jill is a long-time friend of Chrissie Payne, the co-ordinator of the West Somerset Food Cupboard.

Chrissie said: “It’s been a very busy Christmas but absolutely fantastic.

“We made up 259 Christmas food parcels in ten days and we were working right up until Christmas Eve so that anyone who needed our help could receive it.

“We made more than double the amount of food parcels this year on last year and I think sadly that this will just keep rising, but we will continue doing all that we can.

“The generosity of Somerset has been incredible and we couldn’t have done this without your support so thank you.”

Christine said she was overwhelmed especially at the support from young people.

She added: “At only 14 years old, Hannah decided she wanted to do something to help and it’s wonderful that there are people like that in the next generation.

“The money raised will really go far in the New Year.

“We also had a student from the college come in and help us for two days with the Christmas parcels.

“Another young man who works at Iceland took the initiative to say to his manager that they should be helping and they have collected so much food for us. “

I can’t express how grateful we are and how much of a difference it all makes to the lives of others.”