"EVERY little helps" says Tesco - and the supermarket giant has put its slogan into action with a huge donation to the Back on Track appeal.

We asked the store if it would consider backing the appeal as £250 worth of the equipment lost in the Stourport Sports Club blaze had been bought with the help of Tesco Schools and Clubs vouchers.

But the response exceeded our wildest dreams when the company weighed in with a cheque for £2,500 - 10 times the amount we asked for.

And the support has sent the fund total shooting past the £16,700 mark this week.

The Shuttle/Times & News appeal aims to replace £25,000 worth of vital sports equipment lost by Kidderminster & Stourport Athletics Club and Stourport Hockey Club in an arson attack at their headquarters in December.

Felix Gummer, Tesco's corporate affairs manager, said: "The loss must have been a devastating blow to the clubs. Tesco takes sport very seriously, as can be seen by its Sport for Schools and Clubs campaign to encourage children to have a go at new sports and to get fit through exercise.

"Furthermore, it was distressing to learn that the hockey club lost £250 worth of equipment attained by collecting our vouchers in the fire so our donation will enable them to replace this equipment and purchase new equipment."

He added the donation would also help the athletics club overcome the setback caused by the blaze.

He said: "We hope that the clubs will soon be able to get up and running in a new facility as they are a vital local facility."

He added: "Tesco takes its role in the community with commitment. The store in Kidderminster is more than just a retail outlet."

Mark Harradine, hockey club chairman, said: "It is great to see a company the size of Tesco still taking an interest in local issues and supporting clubs like ours.

"We all know of Tesco's great success in so many areas and it might be easy for people to dismiss this gesture as part of their PR.

"The fact is, Tesco need not have given us anything. The fact that they have given so generously is a testament to their commitment to local issues and the fact that individuals within Tesco at Kidderminster pushed so hard to support our cause."

Sue Saunders, athletics club secretary, said: "It is great news about the Tesco donation, another local company giving money to our fund which is really appreciated.

"Every donation gets us nearer to the target. With all the other donations, this is going to enable us to let our athletes start their summer training straightaway as we are now able to order equipment for training purposes."

In the Tesco Sport for Schools and Clubs scheme, vouchers collected by customers can be exchanged for free sports equipment and professional coaching sessions by sports clubs and 30,000 schools around the UK.

Tesco has given away £9 million worth of equipment and coaching sessions to date.