CHEFS at luxury hotel Chewton Glen donated all their fresh produce to New Forest Basics Bank following the venue's enforced Covid closure.

They had a full stock of fresh food and vegetables, much of it from their own celebrated Kitchen Garden, in anticipation of a busy new year.

New lockdown restrictions meant the food could have gone to waste.

But New Milton town councillor Keith Craze liaised with Luke Matthews, the Executive Head Chef of Chewton Glen, and arranged for the New Milton Town Council Estates & Facilities team to collect the amazing array of provisions and deliver to the New Forest Basics Bank in Lymington.

Cllr Craze said "I was greatly heartened by the co-operation and generosity shown by The Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in donating a considerable volume of foods to New Forest Basics Bank for distribution to local needy families.

"Their action clearly demonstrates the levels of assistance and positive participation shown by local businesses in support of the local community during these challenging and difficult times."

One of the recipients of some of the Chewton Glen donation took to social media expressing her gratitude and now has a Facebook Page sharing tasty recipes and meals all related to cooking on a budget Lois’s Cooking With The Basics.

New Milton Town Clerk Graham Flexman added: “Our Estates team are now well versed in this type of operation, collecting food parcels and distributing on behalf of the New Forest Basics Bank, and this is really a fantastic gesture from Chewton Glen, helping those in need locally during these difficult times."

Cheweton Glen is a five star country house hotel in New Milton with luxurious spa facilities and an award-winning New Forest restaurant.