THE number of people seeking help from the Forest Foodbank has increased by a fifth in a matter of months.

Most of the 20 per cent increase has been made up of people on low incomes – and demand is currently outstripping the amount of food available to distribute.

A two-day collection at Tesco in Lydney which saw 901 kilogrammes of food donated has helped to meet the shortfall.

Sandi McDonagh, of the Forest Foodbank, said: “January was very quiet but February and March saw an increase of 20 per cent, mostly from people on low incomes.

“We are currently giving out 600kgs more food a month than is donated, which is why the Lydney collection is so important for restocking our warehouse supplies.

“We had a very successful collection with 901kgs and monetary donations, which is nearly 50kgs more than last year’s Christmas collection.

“A big thank you to the public’s generosity, volunteers and Tesco,” she added.

Chris Halsey, the manager of Tesco in Lydney said as well as supporting the Foodbank, the store also had other schemes to help local organisations.

He said that the Victoria Centre in Lydney, Lydney Football Club and Lydney Leisure Centre were part of the Food Connections scheme which makes surplus fresh food available to organisations.

“We would like to work with more organisations locally and applications can be made through food connections on the Tesco website or by contacting Natalie Webb, the fresh food manager at the Lydney store.”

He said the store is also looking for more local suggestions to benefit from the Bags of Help scheme.

Shoppers place a blue token for their preferred choice and the most popular can receive up to £5,000.