A FOOD Store in Ripon has arranged for more than 200 Christmas puddings to go to the town’s branch of the Royal British Legion to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

The Co-operative in South Grange Road is marking the support given by the store 100 years ago, when in 1914 it sent hundreds of puddings to the frontline from its factory near Manchester.

This year, around 2,000 of the festive desserts are going to the Royal British Legion’s Care Homes and Break Centres around the UK, with the Co-operative’s food store in Elm Road, South Grange, arranging for a supply of the puddings to be served as part of the festive dinner planned for veterans and their families at Lister House in Southgate, Ripon.

Mike Frankland, operations manager for the Co-operative Food in the area, said: “To donate the Christmas puddings to the troops was a magnificent gesture and one that Co-operative Food wanted to commemorate in communities across the UK this Christmas time – I am sure the Royal British Legion veterans at Lister House will enjoy the festive food.”