Three Portishead community groups will be lent a much-needed hand in the coming weeks and months, after an ‘exciting’ charity partnership was launched.

Portishead Rotary Club and the town's Sainsbury's branch will orchestrate a 150-day campaign of volunteering, to celebrate the business' 150th birthday.

A trio of groups selected by the Rotary group will benefit from the partnership after Sainsbury's staff selected the organisation as its chosen charity.

The Lighthouse Dementia Carers Group, the Rotary club's memory café and the monthly Clarence House stroke drop-in centre will all receive valuable voluntary support from Sainsbury's staff for the next few months.

Portishead Rotary Club's former president, said: "We are so delighted and proud to have been chosen as a key partner in the 150th year celebrations.

"Together we can further our community work both here and abroad improving standards of living and quality of life."

The Lighthouse group - which meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at St Nicholas Church in Nore Road from 10.30am-12.30pm - provides carers of people living with dementia the opportunity to talk with people in similar situations, offering respite and comfort.

The group also caters for people with the disease, as skilled staff lead activities including skittles and card games - and Sainsbury's employees will help organise these tasks.

Similarly to the Lighthouse group, the memory café offers support for people with dementia and their carers at Jubilee Hall, in Slade Road, on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 2.15-3.45pm - with shop workers to give up their free time to help.

Finally, the stroke drop-in sessions are held on the first Friday of each month from 10.30am-12.30pm, offering advice to people affected by strokes, be it survivors, carers or family.

Sainsbury's Portishead store manager Robin Ireland said: "We're really excited to be working in partnership with Portishead Rotary Club and helping local causes so close to our hearts - it's a great way for our staff to come together and support the community.

"It's so important to give back to our local community and what better time than in our 150th year."