Frome's Community Fridge, already holder of a European award, seems likely to get even more attention when it stars in the BBC series Countryfile in the coming weeks.

Film crews and producers were at the fridge today (Wednesday) to film over time those who use the community resource, alongside all the shops, businesses and individuals who keep it stocked up.

Remarkably it is the second time that the fridge has been on the Sunday evening TV program.

This time the producers are focusing on food poverty.

The fridge, the first of its kind, opened in May 2016, and it takes waste food from supermarkets,cafes and shops and then it is free to collect to whoever wants or needs it. It saves about one and a half tonnes of food from going into landfill every month.

Fridge co-ordinator Terri Pitts said: " Anyone can access it, it can be people on benefits, people with lots of money in their bank but who want a loaf of bread. It really doesn't matter. It is all about saving food waste."

"We can use food rather than throwing it away."

The fridge has won the European-wide Initiative in Politics award, beating 47 other candidates and is now being emulated Europe-wide, with the first copy of its type being installed in Stockholm.

Terri said: "They really like the idea. It is sad that we do suffer vandalism, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. Helping the community outweighs anything.

"Countryfile were filming today to highlight food poverty and what people can do to help their community. We are living proof that the community can help one another and it doesn't matter if you don't know anyone in your community. You can pop up a fridge and help."

The fridge started in May 2016 when Frome Town Council worked with Edventure and a team of volunteers to set up what was at the time the UK's first community fridge. A community larder was launched in October 2018 to accommodate items that didn't need refrigeration.

Today the fridge has a team of 14 volunteers who keep it working and open to all in the car park close to the Cheese & Grain.

The time lapse feature on Frome's fridge will be broadcast on March 1.