Great Barton company Fencing Fellas support Bury St Edmunds chartiy Gatehouse in their foodbank appeal

A fencing company is supporting a Suffolk charity with a foodbank donation drive ahead of Christmas.

Liam and Frances Suttle, who run Great Barton–based Fencing Fellas, have already donated a large amount of food and drink to Bury St Edmunds' Gatehouse charity, and they are now asking their customers for help.

They typically run a Christmas giveaway on their social media accounts but have opted not to this year, in favour of giving the proceeds to those who need it most.

Liam, 29, said: "We decided to do this instead because if we do a competition as we normally do they might not actually need what we give away.

"We just decided this year we would do something else because in this current climate there are a lot of people that are struggling."

Having lived in the Bury St Edmunds area their whole lives, Liam said he and his partner Frances are keen to see their community thrive and want to help anyone in need.

"People shouldn't have to worry about food being on the table because their bills have gone sky high," he said.

Liam said some have come forward and explained their feelings of embarrassment around asking for help from a charity.

He hopes the campaign, and others like it, work to end this stigma.

"It shouldn't be like that - everyone needs help sometimes. I am hoping this helps break that down," he added.

Fencing Fellas, which was set up four years ago, has a large customer base and Liam said many of these have either donated straight to Gatehouse or given donations to them to pass on.

The company are also offering to drive to pick up donations anywhere within a five–mile radius of Bury St Edmunds.

Taking to social media they wrote: "We are all guilty of taking little things for granted, but please help others this year in donating anything big or small, instead of indulging in something you may not necessarily need.

"The Gatehouse do such a great job of providing emergency crisis food to those who need it, so let's help them to help others this autumn, winter and festive season."

To get in touch with Liam and Frances, call 07506 308815 or email Thefencingfellas@gmail.com.