A new central food bank is to be set up in Bradford to help feed the needy.

Volunteer Lashman Singh has called on charities and community groups to support his plan for a co-ordinated operation to deliver donated food across the district.

Mr Singh, of Clayton, has been running the Curry Project in Bradford for 12 years, cooking and serving meals to the hungry and homeless.

The food is served on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Al Hudda Mosque in Legrams Lane.

But Mr Singh is concerned that the project is only helping people in the city centre and he is keen to develop a district-wide approach.

He said: "We have between 25 to 35 people but I know that only people from the city centre can get to us and there is a need across the district.

"We receive donations from churches, mosques, temples and schools."

Mr Singh hopes the creation of a food bank will ensure all food which is donated goes to those who need it.

He also believes the project will be able to make the most of untapped food resources in the district.

Mr Singh told the Telegraph & Argus he wanted a central food bank run by volunteers to be set up in the city centre.

He wants to set up a working party to help develop the project and is urging anyone interested to contact him. He said: "Donating food is something all religions do. This is something everyone can participate in and by giving they can feel good about themselves and help the citizens of Bradford."

The Rev Geoff Reid, from the Touchstone Centre, in Merton Road, Bradford, called Mr Singh's idea "genius". He said: "He now sees that we have to get our act together with a Bradford-wide strategy, and a vision which is bigger than the aspirations of a variety of small organisations."

Anyone interested in getting involved in the food bank project should call Mr Singh on (01274) 521028.