A new initiative that aims to reduce food waste and provide fresh food for those in need has been launched for the first time in Suffolk - in Lowestoft.

The first community fridge in Suffolk is now located at St Andrew's Church in Roman Road, Lowestoft.

And as the volunteer-led Lowestoft community fridge project was unveiled on Friday (March 1), those behind the scheme said they hoped to roll the scheme out to other areas in the town and across Suffolk.

Supported by the Suffolk Waste Partnership, Waveney District Council, the Morrisons Foundation and environmental charity Hubbub, the fridge is part of the Food Savvy campaign aimed at tackling rising levels of food waste.

Businesses, organisations and residents will be able to donate surplus food to the fridge where it can be collected by any local individual in order to increase a spirit of sharing locally.

Rev Damon Rogers welcomed those present at the unveiling of the Lowestoft community fridge.

He said: 'This shows there are many good things happening in this town – together we can achieve a lot for our Roman Hill community and in turn for the town itself.

'Having the community fridge here in Lowestoft will be a huge benefit to the local community.'

The fridge was donated by Lowestoft-based Hughes Electrical and the scheme will be run by volunteers with support and guidance from the Community Enablers Team at Community Action Suffolk, as part of the Lowestoft Community Capacity Project.

Roy Emmerson, senior community enabler for Community Action Suffolk, said: 'It is a real feather in the cap for Lowestoft to have the first community fridge in Suffolk.'

Tessa Tricks, creative partner at Hubbub, added: 'I'm delighted there is growing support for this movement to tackle food waste at a community level.'

Graham Catchpole, Waveney District Council's cabinet member for operational partnerships, said: 'This is the first community fridge to be set up in the county and we are pleased that East Suffolk is leading the way with this project.

Phil Aves, change manager for Lowestoft Rising, said: 'This time last year the Lowestoft Foodbank was relaunched and a year on 3,500 people have been fed by that Foodbank.

'This is a great project and with fridges hopefully opening up across Lowestoft, it means certain types of food can be put in there that can't go to the foodbanks.'

With the mayor of Lowestoft Ian Graham cutting a ribbon to open the new facility, he said: 'This is fantastic news for the area.'

To learn more about the Lowestoft Community Capacity Project, visit www.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk