SCHOOLS across Taunton and the surrounding towns and villages took part in a harvest festival to collect food for charities and organisations.

Taunton Association from the Homeless (TAH) and Refugee Aid from Taunton (RAFT) benefitted from many students’ collections.

Sariqa Wagley, RAFT volunteer, said: “RAFT are really grateful for the fantastic response from local schools in their harvest collections. This year we received food donations from local primary schools as part of their harvest time. Special thanks are due to the following schools in Taunton Deane – Milverton Community Primary School, Oake Bradford and Nynehead School, Beech Grove Primary School, West Monkton Church of England Primary School, Staplegrove Primary School, Trull Primary School, Minerva Primary School, and West Monkton Church of England Primary School. Milverton School also raised and donated the sum of £222.10 which has been sent to Refugee Support Greece to be used on the indoor playground being made at the refugee camp in Alexandria.”

“Most of the food donated has been sent out on various shipments over the last few weeks bound for Syria and Northern France.”

Schools including Wellington Prep and St Johns C of E Primary School donated its harvests to TAH. Other schools delivered food through villages or to food banks.

Marion Daw, from Sampford Arundel, said: “Year 6 children from Sampford Arundel distributed the school’s harvest produce to villagers. This followed a well-supported service in the village church where all members of the school community celebrated Harvest.

“Surplus harvest produce was donated to the church’s collection for the local food bank.”