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January can be quite a lifeless time for gardens so it is always nice to see robins fluttering around outside, and you can keep them coming back without spending any money. Robins desperately need all the help they can get in winter since most of their natural food sources are gone, as they cannot dig up insects from the frozen ground and most berries have wilted away already.

Most people have a bird feeder in their garden, but keeping them filled can quickly add up in costs, especially if you are buying foods robins love like suet pellets or dried mealworms.However, the RSPCA have stated there is a simple way to help out local British birds as they love lots of different kitchen leftovers that often end up in the bin. They said: "Birds love to eat food scraps - cooked pasta, rice and boiled potatoes, or mild hard cheese and uncooked and unsalted bacon rind."

Robins need a lot of food in winter as they keep warm by building up their fat reserves, and if they go hungry at this time of year they can risk freezing to death.

Grated cheese and bacon rinds are some of the best foods to give robins, as they provide the fats needed to help the birds stay alive and become much stronger, making them more likely to survive cold weather.

Boiled pasta, rice or potatoes are also fine to feed robins as they contain carbohydrates that will keep them a quick energy boost and fill them up.

It should be noted that you should only ever feed robins plain food that has not been salted, covered in oils or seasoned.

Birds cannot digest salt very well and even a small amount can harm their kidneys, cause dehydration and in severe cases can lead to seizures or death.

Do not feed robins potatoes or pasta that has been cooked in salty water and also keep smoky bacon away from them as it contains preservatives that can hard their liver.

Make sure all the food you are feeding robins has been chopped up finely, as they cannot chew and any large pieces can cause them to choke or damage their beaks.

Once you have prepared the food, place it in a quiet spot in your garden next to a cover like a hedge or bush as robins will feel safer if they have a hiding spot nearby

Leftovers work as supplements to help robins keep warm during the cold weather, and taking the time to help them out now will ensure these beautiful birds keep coming back to your garden throughout winter.

The expert said: "Helping garden birds can be as rewarding for you as it is for them. By using bird tables and hanging feeders, you can bring wild birds right up to your window."