Families in need in the Wellington area are benefiting from food bank Christmas holiday ‘hampers’.

Families referred by local schools and a health visitor each received bags full of dried and tinned goods, and other items including Christmas treats, at the United Reformed Church in Fore Street last Thursday. More packs are set to be distributed on Thursday, December 17.

Town and Somerset county councillor Andrew Govier helped transport 62 bags of food from the Taunton food bank depot to the church.

Christine Silverlight, from the Wellington food bank, said: “Our food bank has been open over seven years and is manned by volunteers who faithfully give their time each week to give out food, collect donations, pack boxes and bring them back to the URC to replace stock given out.

“The last few years have seen a huge increase in the number of clients coming along, not just for food but also for a cup of tea, chat and advice on other ways they might be able to get help.

“This year we have sadly had to change the way we operate but we hope that before too long we will be once again be able to welcome our clients back into the building. We are very grateful to the United Reformed Church for letting us use their facilities and space every week.”

Wellington food bank is part of the Taunton food bank network and one of 425 Trussell Trust food banks. During the last two weeks of March, the trust saw a huge increase in the need for emergency food parcels, including a 122 per cent rise in the number of parcels being given to families. The Trussell Trust is a Christian charity founded in 2004 and Taunton food bank opened in 2012.