AN urgent appeal for food has gone out from 'profoundly concerned' volunteers at Carlisle Foodbank as they struggle to feed desperate families.

Levels of stock at have fallen to an unprecedented low at the charity's English Street base with shelves now empty of all but a few types of food.

The small but dedicated team are asking residents to spare what they can to help ensure no-one in the city goes hungry this summer.

Rachael Rodway , Carlisle Foodbank chairman, described the situation as 'critical'.

"We are having to buy food in at the moment. Things are critical.

"The people of Carlisle have always been so generous from day one. They have taken the foodbank to their hearts and we are immensely grateful.

"I feel guilty asking for more from them now but I am profoundly concerned about how we will manage this summer otherwise."

Mrs Rodway explained the team were facing a perfect storm this summer - with the full roll out of universal credit and the start of the school summer holidays beginning on the same day.

Referrals to the foodbank for families and individuals hitting crisis point could rocket by 100 a week, she fears.

Research conducted in other parts of the country that have already undergone the switch to the controversial single benefit Universal Credit have shown foodbank usage has increased by 30 per cent within six months.

Mrs Rodway said the option of rationing food if the situation did not improve had been raised, but she added: "We don't want to think about that, we'll have to find a way to manage somehow because people are relying on us.

"We would normally start having to buy in some food in mid August, because we know referrals go up in the summer holidays. It's when a lot of families need us.

"But we have been doing it for some time this year.

"We're definitely seeing more people now. Things are getting worse for them, there's no doubt.

"I was brought up to believe there was a safety net if you were really struggling but it's just not there anymore.

"People are being treated appallingly, it's barbaric."

The city's foodbank fed more than 6,000 people last year with budget and a delay in benefits cited as the principle reasons behind referrals.

But the final figure for 2018 is expected to the highest in the organisation's eight year history as more and more people reach out for help to fend off hunger.

As well as food donatons, Carlisle Foodbank, which is independently run, uses end of shelf life food from bakery chain Greggs and retailer Marks and Spencer which volunteers ta Botcherby Community Centre use to create home made meals for those who attend the foodbank.

The charity also provides sanitary products for women thanks to an annual donation from the Carlisle Soroptimists.

Here's how you can help

While Carlisle Foodbank has a stock of baked beans and soups, they have run out of most other suitable foodstuffs for their packages which provide breakfast, lunch and tea for three days

Tinned fruit, tinned fish and tinned meat - including items people can eat from the can if necessary, such as Irish stew, mince and meatballs - are all required as is pasta, rice, cereals, instant mash potato, rice pudding or custard.

Stock cubes and food that can be eaten without being warmed up is also essential for anyone sleeping rough, people without cooking facilities or those living in fuel poverty.

And foodbank volunteers like to be able to include either tea or coffee and a snack such as crisps or a packet of biscuits when they have them.

Rachael Rodway said: "We try to make sure there is a breakfast, a snack lunch and a main meal to last for three days in each parcel.

"We have to think that not everyone has cooking facilities, so packets of food like instant mash potato or custard, that can be made using just hot water, are very useful.

"The food might not be the healthiest overall but this isn't a lifestyle, we're trying to help people in crisis as much as we can."

Donations can be left at any of the foodbanks collection points at Asda, Morrisons or Sainsburys, at the One World shop on Lowthians Lane or the fire station on Eastern Way.

Money, which is used to buy items in short supply, can also be donated at the foodbank office or by writing a cheque to Carlisle Foodbank.