MORE than 500 people struggling with the cost of living have accessed free food in the past five months.

Rev Simon Helme, a member of Cam and Dursley Churches Together, which is co-ordinating the Dursley Foodbank, said the need in the community is becoming greater and is likely to continue for some time as people struggle to feed their families.

The Stroud Foodbank, of which the Dursley Foodbank is a satellite, was launched last December and has so far fed 500 people across the district.

According to Mr Helme on one day alone the Dursley Foodbank helped 16 people who could not afford to buy food.

He said: "Of those 500 people I think it is fair to say Dursley has accounted for just under half of that figure. Just last Monday we needed to feed 16 people."

Mr Helme said the majority of people seeking help and food have been affected by changes to benefits such as the rise in the threshold to the Working Families Tax Credit.

He said: "When you are bouncing little bottoms on very little and very little becomes even less it’s very easy to fall into problems."

However, Mr Helme said households not usually reliant on benefits but who have been affected by the stagnant economic climate were also needing help.

People who are not able to cover the cost of food and are in short-term financial crisis need to approach a local care professionals such as GPs, social workers, clergy, Citizens’ Advice Bureau and schools to access special vouchers, which can then be taken to a foodbank.

At the foodbank families or individuals are given a box of food with enough food for three days.

Mr Helme is now encouraging more people in the Cam, Dursley and Wotton areas to make donations of food items. Donations can be dropped off at most local churches.

He said: "We are so grateful for the support of the community so far people just keep dropping food off. It’s amazing to see such generosity in these times.

"If you’ve been blesssed you can be a blessing to someone else."

For more information visit, www.strouddistrict.foodbank.org.uk