SHERBORNE’S Community Fridge has had more than 1,000 visits and has saved over one tonne of food from being wasted in its first year.

The Community Fridge is an initiative, backed by Sherborne Town Council, to help reduce food waste.

Produce donated by local businesses is freely available to all from the Pod in Cheap Street.

The Pod in Cheap Street.

Deputy mayor and fridge volunteer Cllr Suresh Jeganathan said: “We are enormously grateful to our local suppliers including Oxfords Bakery, Sherborne Market Store and Co-op who give us their surplus produce each week, to the volunteers at the Pod who keep the doors open and help visitors, and to our small band of fridge volunteers who collect and organise the food each week. Thank you.

“The fridge is for the benefit of anyone who would like to try something from our usual selection of bread, fruit and vegetables.

“It just makes sense to give the produce one last chance to be enjoyed. Reducing food waste is also good for the environment, which was one of the key drivers behind the initiative.”

More than 1,000 visits were made to the Community Fridge.

The Community Fridge is open between 10am and 12noon and from 1pm to 3pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

People can also access the fridge between 10am and 12noon on Saturdays.