A FOODBANK has seen referrals rocket by 277 per cent on last year – with more than half of the parcels given to Burnley families.

Community Solutions Foodbank, which has its headquarters in Cannon Street, Accrington, is delivering 200 food parcels every week.

Figures show that their group of foodbanks across East Lancashire, which includes Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley, have had more than 2,149 referrals in the past eight months. The highest number was recorded in Burnley, with 1,342 referrals.

Genevieve Waite, of Community Solutions, said: “In the first five days of June this year, we had the same number of referrals as we did in the whole month last year. There is a great need and it is growing.”

Demand is significantly less than at the Blackburn foodbank, which had 2,732 referrals over an eight-month period, but Miss Waite said the figures were almost double what they were eight months ago.

People are referred to Community Solutions by care professionals, schools, councillors and community centres. They are then visited by a volunteer, who not only accesses their need for food but offers guidance on other issues.

Miss Waite said: “We see people living without any cooking facilities at all, people with literally nothing in their cupboard. Not one tin of beans.” Community Solutions then delivers a food parcel containing a week’s food and, if necessary, other provisions such as nappies and babywipes. She said: “A third of our referrals are from children, and only five per cent are for homeless people. The people we help could be your neighbour or your friend.

“When I was volunteering, a lady told me, in her own home, that she hadn’t eaten for three days so that she had enough money to feed her child.

“It’s heartbreaking.”

To donate or volunteer, visit www.communitysolutionslancashire.co.uk or call 01254 352591.