RUNNING enthusiasts have collected more than a tonne of groceries – and 300 Easter eggs – to support a food bank through the coronavirus crisis.

The runners from across Sussex are part of a group called RunPals, which has been scouring the county and sprinting with supplies to those hit hardest by the Covid-19 lockdown.

When the group heard that Seahaven food bank was struggling, its members limbered up and leapt into action.

In a matter of weeks, the group has raised almost £2,000 for the food bank and negotiated a regular ringfenced supermarket delivery from Lidl.

When a primary school had to cancel it Easter celebrations, the group even secured a hefty supply of chocolate eggs.

Organiser Matt Coyne, from Saltdean, said: “When news of the lockdown was looming, I mobilised my community-run group RunPals to hold a food drive for Seahaven food bank, where we collected over a tonne of food from our community.”

Matt also managed to make a deal with Lidl in Newhaven. He said the supermarket had “kindly agreed to hold back vital supplies”.

This week the group has collected £500 worth of food and essentials.

The group’s strangest achievement, though, was securing that monster donation of chocolate eggs from Saltdean primary school.

Matt said: “The school had an Easter event coming up, and they had 300-odd eggs they couldn’t use because they had to cancel it.

“So a group called Friends of Saltdean Primary very kindly donated them to us. We gave half to Seahaven and half to Whitehawk food bank.

Hopefully it will bring people there a smile.”

The group has now raised more than £1,600 on its GoFundMe page and Matt said it has been “overwhelmed with donations”.

Food banks are in desperate need at the moment and have been sorely affected by the pandemic.

Last month, Brighton food bank said it has been unable to get hold of bread and long-life milk because supermarket shelves had been stripped bare.

Grocery delivery services were log-jammed and the food bank’s orders have been hampered by limits designed to stop shoppers bulk buying.

The organisation, based in Stanley Road, said it was under intense pressure as the Government lockdown and joblessness brought the city to its knees.

But Matt and his team are hoping their efforts can keep the food banks full and the community fed.

The group has printed thousands of leaflets to reach vulnerable people in isolation, offering to collect and deliver groceries, and has created a Facebook group to keep people in isolation connected with the support it is offering.

It has also launched a Facebook group called “Happy Windows” to spread communal cheer. Those stuck indoors can share happy designs in their windows to keep spirits up in these trying times.

You can donate to the RunPals fundraiser at gofundme.com/f/deans-amp-haven-foodbank-fundraiser.

- The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund