CREDITON Tesco has been busy in the last couple of weeks working with a number of groups in the local community.

On February 21 the store at Wellparks, Crediton, provided the refreshments for Crediton and District Special Needs Playscheme and Community Champion, Andrew Drayton, helped on the day serving food and drink and provided a helping hand with the group's half-term party.

Three members of staff from the store visited Landscore Primary School as part of a Year 2 project, "Foods from around the World".

Approximately 100 children from three classes met with the staff members, Yvonne Glass, Allyson Greenacre, Scott Carter and Andrew Drayton, who provided information including: Where food comes from and how it is transported to the store; information on "Farm-to-Fork" and a tasting session of differing types of fruits from around the world.

The store worked with the teachers from the school so that the visit was relevant to the work that the children had been doing.

The children were thrilled to take part in a lesson that was a little bit out of the ordinary.

The stores Farm-to-Fork guide, Yvonne Glass, said: "This visit highlights why Tesco have set up the Farm-to-Fork initiative.

"The ethos is to re-connect children with food and build a better relationship with and understanding of what they are eating.

"For example, the tasting session allows children to touch and taste food that they may not have encountered before and shows them the variety of food that is available to them."

Produce manager, Scott Carter, enthused about being able to show the children a variety of fruits: "I don't often get out of the store to take part in activities such as this," he said, "but to see the children so enthusiastic in trying new tastes and having so much fun with the experience was brilliant."

Mrs Williamson, deputy head and one of the class teachers, said: "It was great fun for the children to do something different and learn at the same time.

"They were very excited and told their parents about the afternoon."

Prior to the visit the children were asked to invent a new fruit, including where it may come from and what it would taste like and the best three were chosen to receive a prize from the Crediton store.

The winners were Lily T – Mrs Williamson's class, Oliver from Mrs Houston's class and Evan from LW class.

Their work and all of the other children's has been on display at Crediton Tesco for the customers to enjoy.

Some of the mum's from Piglets Toddler Group visited Crediton Tesco on Friday, February 28 to collect a donation and have a look around the store.

The mums were taken around the various departments and had talks from managers and the stores Community Champion before they collected a new sandpit that the store had donated.

The Toddler Group's chair, Helen Olsson said of the visit and donation: "The children and parents really enjoyed the visit; it was great fun seeing behind the scenes.

"Thank you very much to Crediton Tesco for making us welcome and for the sandpit that the children at Piglet's will love."

Crediton's Age Concern group and the new Crediton branch of the Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF) group received donations for their Open day and Quiz Night, which was very successful. Group treasurer, Angela Catlow, visited the store to collect the donation.

The popular Car Boot Sales, held in the Tesco Crediton car park return on Sunday, March 16, from 11am to 3pm.

As in previous year's, bookings for available slots must be made in advance.

Mr Drayton, said: "The car boot sales have been so popular over the last three years with the Crediton community.

"We have found that, as well as members of the public, they have been a very useful fund-raising activity for local groups and, as the sellers fees are all donated to our charity partner, Diabetes UK, everyone seems to benefit."

To book your space for the March car boot sale, please call 07702 142837.