MEET the parents at a primary school in Longford who are making their community a better place.

Formed just under a year ago, the Friends of Meadowside have since helped more than 1,000 families to eat, access benefits and improve their mental health.

Parents of pupils at Meadowside Community Primary School, on Clough Avenue, have set up food banks across the north-eastern part of town and give second-hand uniform items out to families who cannot afford them.

And the Friends of Meadowside also ensure that kids do not go hungry in the school holidays - holding tinned food collections in the run-up to the breaks and giving out sandwiches to 300 kids last summer.

Mark Davies, a parent and governor at the school, was a founder member of the friends group when it was set up in March last year.

The dad-of-four said: "My wife said one afternoon that she was bored, and since then it's been non-stop.

"We started with just two trays of food - now we distribute approximately 80 trays of food a week "In December alone, we helped 604 families and since March last year we're probably approaching 1,500 families.

"On average, there are about 125 people a week coming through the school shop.

"The kids come for a hot dog or a bag of crisps or a hot drink.

"It's about making sure they've got something in their belly as they're leaving, because they've not always got that.

As well as helping with food and clothing, the Friends of Meadowside help with furniture and benefits advice - as well as running a mental health support group.

They now have ambitions to create safe houses for women and children suffering from domestic violence.

Mark, from Orford, added: "The programme for the future is hopefully to get a couple of houses by the end of this year for families who have had to come out of domestic violence situations - we're in the middle of discussions for that at the moment.

"We're helping those who just don't get the help otherwise, helping anybody who needs it."