Families keen to start eating a healthier diet in 2016 will be able to do so for less in the coming months.

At least, those that live near to one of the 128 Asda stores that from today will start stocking large boxes of mis-shapen vegetables for £3.50. Only 20 boxes will be stocked initially as part of a trial.

Claiming it is the first supermarket to take this step in an effort to reduce food waste, Asda said the 'Wonky Veg' boxes will contain enough seasonal vegetables and salad ingredients to feed a family of four for a week.

Asda said: 'The exclusive wonky veg boxes are packed with peculiar potatoes, crooked carrots and curved cucumbers which are all in season, as well as knobbly peppers, cabbages, onions, leeks and parsnips.'

The move follows on from the supermarket's 'Beautiful on the Inside’ range of 'ugly' veg, which are sold in-store for a third less than more attractive produce, in a bid to support farmers who might otherwise have to throw it away.

Asda started selling that produce last year after TV chef Jamie Oliver threw down the gauntlet with a campaign against food waste in January 2015.

The launch comes as grocery prices have fallen in an ongoing supermarket price war.

A study of more than 60,000 grocery items in the UK’s four biggest supermarkets – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons - commissioned by trade magazine The Grocer has revealed that prices fell by a record 2.8 per cent in the year to February.

Morrisons saw the biggest fall in prices at an average of 5.2 per cent in the year to February, according to the study. Tesco cut them by an average 3.4 per cent, while they were down 2.2 per cent at Sainsbury’s and 1.4 per cent at Asda.

Ugly - or just different? Some examples of the sweet potatoes and carrots from Asda's 'Beautiful on the inside' range of veg that would normally be thrown out.

The report suggests that grocery prices have fallen every month since mid-2014, with last year’s drop being even higher than the previous record fall of 2.5 per cent for the 12 months to mid-2015.

The big four supermarkets are struggling to maintain their share of the grocery market, which is being dented by the success of discounters Lidl and Aldi.

The two German supermarkets currently enjoy a 4.3 per cent and 5.5 per cent share respectively. Two years ago, Lidl had a 3.1 per cent market share compared to Aldi's 4 per cent, according to figures by Kantar Worldpanel.

Their success seems to be unstoppable, with both supermarkets set for rapid expansion.