A PIONEERING new project set up to provide affordable, locally produced food to Stroud residents was launched this month.

StroudCo Foodhub allows shoppers to order from an online catalogue of foods and collect their fresh groceries every Saturday from Parliament Street Primary School.

Everything from meats and cheeses to biscuits and bitter can be purchased via the scheme, which is supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

Free parking is available at the school during collection days and alternative dates and home deliveries can also be arranged.

Local food producers are welcome to sign up as traders under the project, which is now operating full time having been ran as a pilot since February.

"What first attracted me to StroudCo was the fact that it is local food for local people," said project manager Lynsey Powell.

"In an age where you can get strawberries in December I think that it is important for food to go back to being locally produced - reducing unnecessary food miles. "We have some fantastic producers supplying Stroudco and the quality of the products is second to none. "Some of my personal favorites include the wonderful organic vegetable boxes from Coleshill, fresh organic milk from Woefuldane, truly indulgent brownies and the more everyday products like bread, eggs and bacon." For the full list of available products and details of how to join visit www.stroudco.org.uk