FOODBANKS across Bolton had a great start to the year when a triathlon team donated bags of gifts.

Team Deane collected donations of crucial supplies for foodbanks throughout the borough after visiting a New Year’s Day swim at Salford Quays.

The team’s chairman Chris Brady gathered boxes of food with the help of Uswim to bring back to foodbanks across Bolton.

Uswim is an open water venue at Dock 9 Salford Quays, providing a safe place for training and for people to experience open water swimming.

Mr Brady, from Deane, said: "Team Deane are very community orientated — that's very important to us at the club even though we are a triathlon club.

"Christmas can be a very difficult time financially for lots of people so when the guys at Uswim asked us to be involved in helping distribute people's foodbank donations we jumped at the opportunity.

"Christmas is about giving and that's what Team Deane base ourselves on. If we can make people smile that's all we ask for."

Gareth Riley, team coach and club secretary, added: “We collected loads of donations for foodbanks from the New Year’s Day swim at Salford Quays in partnership with Uswim.

“We have a great partnership with Karen Smith and the guys from Uswim and they do this every year, they collect donations to give back to local causes.

“Team Deane, being a group where community and giving something back is very much at the heart of the club, were happy to be involved and help distribute the donations to local foodbanks in Bolton to help people get off to a better start in 2017.

“Team Deane has been a tri partner for the past year and we hope to do more with Karen Smith and the Team at Uswim this year.

“Thanks to Uswim for being so supportive of Team Deane in 2016 and a Happy New Year.”