POLICE chiefs have donated nearly £50,000 to help tackle food poverty in the region.

The cash has been contributed by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson and the Chief Constable, Dee Collins.

It has been donated from the Police Property Act Fund to the West Yorkshire Food Poverty Network, which comprises five smaller networks across the region.

Mr Burns-Williamson said: “It’s a tragedy that in this day and age there are still people who struggle to buy enough food for themselves and their families, but it’s a real issue in many of our communities.

“This donation should provide some much-needed co-ordinated support and will contribute towards easing the pressure on those in our communities during these increasingly challenging times.

“It’s fantastic to see monies from the Police Property Act Fund, which is created from the sale of recovered stolen property where the owners cannot be traced, used to help people in difficult circumstances.”