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Foodbanks rely on donations from kind-hearted people ready to delve into their cupboards and offer surplus food to people less fortunate than themselves.

But one donor’s clearout was long overdue after they handed Cardiff foodbank a tin of kidney soup that was at least 46 YEARS old.

The rusty tin of Heinz ‘ready to eat’ Kidney Soup, priced at 10d or 10p in old money was handed into to the Trussell Trust Cardiff Food Bank on Wednesday.

Staff said the “hilarious” donation also included an 8p tin of Green Giant sweetcorn dating back to the 1980s and a 13p tin of Del Monte carrots.

(Image: South Wales Echo)

Helen Bull, the trust’s partnership and fundraising manager, said: “Especially at Harvest time people empty their cupboards of food they no longer need.

“It’s out of a generous heart but I just think they don’t think and don’t necessarily look at the dates.

“It would be great if anybody wants to give us lots of money for it.

“It should probably be in a museum.”

(Image: South Wales Echo)

The tin dates back to before decimalisation in 1971 – making it at least 46 years old.

Makers Heinz tweeted: “Wow! That soup was discontinued over 35 years ago. Should be in a museum rather than a food bank!”

Helen said the donation was made by an unknown person but came as part of a series of donations from schools and churches as part of Harvest Festival donations.

Unfortunately staff regularly find out of date food.

Helen said: “Sometimes we do end up throwing quite a lot of food out. We get an awful lot of out-of-date food.”

She said they plan to keep the tins in the office and will get a “smile” out of them.

She added: “We will certainly keep them. It might remind people to give us in-date food.”

The foodbank costs between £80,000 and £100,000 to keep going each year and rely solely on donations.

It is currently short of tinned tomatoes, sponge cake, coffee, biscuits and custard.

They give people a “balanced” diet in their food packages but need sweet food to give people who have gone without food some quick energy.

To find out where you can make a donation in Cardiff visit cardiff.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food