STOCKS are running low at the North Ayrshire Foodbank as demand for the service continues to sky-rocket.

The Trussell Trust, which operates the North Ayrshire Foodbank, serving Irvine and Kilwinning, last week reported a huge increase in families forced to seek out emergency food parcels.

Research has highlighted that in the past year over 4,000 people across North Ayrshire were given three days worth of emergency food - 2,743 adults and 1,320 children.

The numbers reflect a similar scene across the whole of the UK, while the Trussell Trust has identified that half of referrals to foodbanks in 2013-14 were a result of benefit delays or changes.

This week, Irvine MP Brian Donohoe laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of the coalition government at Westminster. He said: “Over 900,000 people received three days worth of emergency food from Trussell Trust foodbanks in 2013-14 compared to just under 350,000 in 2012-13 and with over 50 per cent of those being due to benefit delays, particularly sanctions and low income, I would say it is a shocking indictment of the present government’s performance to date.

“More worrying is the fact that the Trussell Trust’s figures are deemed to be just the tip of the iceberg as other emergency food providers figures are not included nor those people suffering with no foodbank in their town to help or people too ashamed to ask for help.

“There must be action taken to address the administration of the benefits regime and a further introduction of the living wage as it is apparent the national minimum wage is not enough as living costs rise and further squeeze those on the lowest incomes.

“I fully support the announced cross-party inquiry into UK food poverty which in my opinion should not be an issue in the UK in 2014.” The news coincided with reports that stocks are running low at the North Ayrshire Foodbank, which regularly distributes to families in Irvine through Fullarton Church, Girdle Toll Church and the Salvation Army centre.

Local foodbank volunteer Craig Crosthwaite said: “The foodbank has highs and lows all the time. In the run up to Easter holidays we were near to empty shelves and then the schools and churches came forward with enough to get us over the holidays.

“We have just completed two weeks of helping families who face financial stress at this time when children are at home and cannot access their free school meals.

“As a result of this support we have given out an additional 32 food boxes this week alone with 60 going out over the two weeks. So, we have a diminished stock again.” Currently, the North Ayrshire Foodbank is in particular need of tins of fruit and tins of meat (mince, stew, chicken) and breakfast cereals. Donations should be handed in to the foodbank centre at Ardrossan Church of the Nazarene during opening hours (Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11am-1pm).

The next supermarket collections in Irvine are being held on May 9 at Asda and on May 25 at Sainsbury’s.