It is perfectly understandable to be outraged when you first discover bananas which are too curvy and packets where labels are askew are among the tonnes of food discarded by supermarkets and producers.

Your initial thought may be for those who are starving in the third world or who are going without in this country and in this city.

And then you discover where this waste food is heading and you can't fail to be impressed.

For in Bedminster, Bristol, is a warehouse run by FareShare South West which shifts 30 tonnes of unwanted, but perfectly good, food every single week.

The national charity, which has had a Bristol branch for the past 18 months, gives it out to more than 40 charities across the city.

It is quite incredible the wide group of people who are actually benefiting.

For the charities which it is helping aren't just those which would seem in obvious need such as the homeless but also women's projects, breakfast clubs for pensioners and some young people's groups.

Sometimes people ask what food should be donated for the homeless.

The answer is simple; the same that the giver is eating at home.

And that's what makes this project so special – for the food it is distributing is exactly that.

Those who receive it do not care that they are getting a carrot with a kink in it, the packaging may not be exact or it is coming towards the end of its shelf-life. It is the nourishment which they need.

Not only is the project providing food to those in need, it is cutting the running costs for other charities and providing training for the volunteers who make sure the food gets to where it is needed.

It is truly heartwarming.