TOWN councillors are supporting a scheme by businessman Tim Potter to help some of Wellington’s most needy families enjoy a Christmas roast dinner.

Mr Potter, who owns an award-winning family butcher’s shop in Fore Street, asks regular customers each year to contribute a little extra to his ‘Potter’s Pounds’ project to cover the cost of hampers containing fresh meat and vegetables.

The hampers are then distributed by staff of the town’s primary schools to families they have identified as suffering significant hardship.

Up to 40 Wellington families have been helped in previous years, and this Christmas it is expected that each school will give out about eight hampers at a total cost of £1,700.

But, members of the council’s policy and finance committee heard Mr Potter faced a potential shortfall this year because donations had been slow and only £600 had so far been raised.

Town clerk Dave Farrow said: “This may change over the next few weeks and an updated figure will be provided.

“The hampers are delivered to families by schools’ staff shortly before Christmas.”

Councillors agreed to take up to £1,100 from the council’s cost of living crisis budget to underwrite any shortfall in ‘Potter’s Pounds’ donations to ensure enough hampers could be provided.

However, concern was raised over the principle of using council taxpayers’ funds for what was essentially a private enterprise.

Councillors were told they might have to look at the scheme being taken over by the council next year if they wanted to continue the hamper tradition.