PEOPLE picked up more than 1,000 kilogrammes of free potatoes yesterday, all in aid of helping the homeless.

Volunteers began handing out the spuds at 8am, which were all gone by 3pm.

City Harvest was behind the give-away and asked for donations in a bid to raise funds for a refrigerated van. The charity need it to help them deliver food and other essentials to good causes across the capital, including Acton Homeless Concern, Broadway in Ealing and Shepherd’s Bush and the Upper Room in Shepherd’s Bush.

Coordinator Mark Harvey, said: “People were a bit confused at first, surprised that we were giving them away for free. But they were grateful when the penny dropped and a lot of people gave donations. Some people gave their details and volunteered to help in future.”

Mr Harvey and his four volunteers were joined on the day by Alex Hunt-Braddock, of Acton, who gave up his time to help their cause when he realised what they were doing.

The charity raised £210 towards their target of £15,000 to cover the cost of a van and its insurance. Volunteers have now raised a third of the total needed.