More than a thousand poor families will enjoy a full Christmas dinner this year thanks to a regional daily’s readers.

The Liverpool Echo has raised £10,000 to help provide two course meals for 1,500 families on Merseyside on Christmas Day.

The appeal forms part of the Echo’s Share Your Lunch campaign, which aims to provide healthy meals for people living in poverty.

Editor Alastair Machray has thanked readers for their donations so far.

He said: “This is brilliant news. Thank you so much to every one of you who donated. Every donation, small and large, was crucial and helped us get to what was an ambitious target.

“At an extremely busy time of year, when there are so many demands on people’s time and money, you have helped us raise a very large sum and we have been absolutely blown away by your generosity and kindness.”

The campaign is being run in association with social enterprise Can Cook, which campaigns against food poverty.

Development manager Laura McCumiskey said: “We’re delighted that the generous donations from ECHO readers and partners will allow us to let struggling families in the region know that there are people out there who really care enough to donate and ensure that they are cared for and fed well over Christmas.

“Along with support from Echo staff volunteers and Merseyside Police volunteers – throughout Christmas week and on Christmas Day – we’re hopeful of spreading a little festive cheer over what is an extremely difficult time of year for many people.”