91Èȱ¬

A North East charity has opened a new "social supermarket" which it hopes will half the shopping bills of disabled customers.

North Tyneside Disability Forum is offering food worth £10 for £5.

The store has been set up at its site in Shiremoor and will open every Monday from 11:00 to 13:00 GMT.

Shoppers will be offered a range of food including frozen and tinned.

The forum is also running a warm hub cafe at the site during the same hours, where people can get hot drinks and cheap snacks.

The disability forum has received funding from North Tyneside Council's community food programme.

Forum chair, Dr Robert Dennis, said 10 families had signed for the supermarket's first shopping session.

The facility was opened by North Tyneside's elected mayor, Dame Norma Redfearn.

She said: "Ensuring our residents have fair access to affordable food is a real priority for us.

"We know the cost of living is continuing to have a big impact on our communities and many residents need extra support to access food and support."

Research published by The Food Foundation last month said four in 10 families with disabled members were worried about being able to afford food.

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