THE West Northumberland Foodbank is facing unprecedented demanded as the effects of holiday hunger and universal credit continue to bite.

The organisation issued a desperate plea for donations last week after 45 households came through the doors of their four sites in just two hours.

The food bank was short of tinned food, long-life milk, cereal, juice, coffee, quick meal items such as super noodles, toiletries and cleaning products.

Project manager Sam Gilchrist explained: “It’s been holiday hunger, that’s a big part of it.

“So far this year we’ve helped 420 households – up from 363 last year. One hundred and fifty seven of those are first time visitors, and we’ve helped 385 children in total.

“That’s evidence of child poverty right on our doorstep. Usually parents just about make it through the holidays, but then can’t afford school uniform.

“We’re now seven years into austerity and benefit freezes – but 18 per cent of the people we see are in work.”

Sam also stressed that the food bank did not just provide food. She said support workers were on hand to provide debt advice, while the organisation could also help to source furniture. The aim, she said, was to help people who were in long-term poverty, as opposed to solely dealing with people in crisis.

Alan Bell, a carer from Hexham, was thrust into difficulty when his disclosure and barring service form (DBS) took three months to clear, meaning he couldn’t work.

Alan praised the work of the food bank. Speaking to the Courant he said: “I applied for a DBS to work for a care company. The DBS people had it for two days, the police had it for 92. It pushed me over the edge. My gas and electric were off. I had to sell my TV and microwave.

“The food bank is an absolute god send, everybody who works here is. Sam has been marvellous. Other than supply me with food, they’ve given me a cooker, a television, and a microwave. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

The dedication to people runs in the Gilchrist family. Sam’s daughter, Rosie, runs Hexham’s Children and Baby Bank, which provides clothing for disadvantaged families.

The service will be running a uniform day on Saturday for families struggling to buy uniform, which doesn’t require a referral.

Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman did not respond to requests for a comment on the rising use of the food bank.