THE Wellington Food Bank in Fore Street is facing its busiest time of the year leading up to Christmas and the festive school holiday.

Twenty-two volunteers headed by manager Clare Lucker will be providing extra food for vulnerable families who cannot feed their children, plus couples and single people.

The bank is based at the United Reformed Church and is a satellite of the much bigger Taunton centre, which distributes the food.

“Our volunteers – from all walks of life - have to go to Taunton weekly to collect food,” said Clare. “We have also been able to supply some holiday food packs to schools. We are starting to increase our school catchment area.

“One of the problems faced by families is Universal Credit. People have to wait five or six weeks to get their money and they get into debt. They have no money at all because they have had to borrow.

“It is a situation anyone could find themselves in. People can get into debt quite easily.”

The Wellington bank opens twice a week – from 3-4pm on Monday and the same time on Thursday.

Wiveliscombe now also has a food bank which faces the same kind of problems leading up to Christmas.