IN a sign of the hard economic times, traditional harvest gifts of fruit, vegetables and bread gave way to more practical offerings of tinned, dried and packet foods at Bainbridge Methodist Church's harvest festival celebrations.

All the donations will be taken to the Influence Church in Richmond, the latest group to set up a food bank in the region to help people experiencing financial hardship.

“People have been very generous, but this is not just a one-off offering. We are going to have a box in church all year round so people can continue to make donations,” said Anne Deans, centre, who, with daughter Kirsten Civil, right, and the Reverend Janet Park, helped organise the distribution. There will also be a similar offerings box in West Burton Church.