A food bank has issued an appeal for help to stock its shelves.

The Salvation Army in Penrith, situated on Hunters Lane, has experienced a surge in referrals to its food bank over recent months.

However, food bank donations have seen a dip.

Those wishing to donate supplies can use the drop-off points at Booths and Morrisons supermarkets, on Brunswick Road, or the Salvation Army's church and community centre on Hunters Lane, which accept donations from Tuesday to Friday between 10:00am and 2:30pm.

Major Carole Donaldson, church leader at The Salvation Army in Penrith, said: "We are packing more food parcels than ever before and listening to people detail their struggles and how they can no longer afford to make ends meet.

"We are helping people who are working, retired, have caring responsibilities and families to feed.

"We see people in desperate need, thinking they would never be in a position to need to use a food bank but are being pushed to the brink, struggling to get by.

"We are praying that we can meet the need that is growing day by day, but we are now tasked with not only helping people that can’t afford food, but also the people that would have once given supplies to us, tightening their own budgets and not being able to support with donated items where they once could.

"It is a huge worry as we see our food bank shelves start to become bare."

Open on Tuesdays and Fridays, between 10am and 2pm, the Salvation Army food bank functions on a referral basis from organisations such as Citizen Advice, job centres, local schools, health visitors, and doctors.

Food parcels can consist of essentials like tinned vegetables and fruit, pasta and sauce in a jar, coffee, toilet roll, biscuits, and toiletries.

Each person referred to the food bank receives supplies for seven days plus extras such as toiletries, with the age of children considered in case items like nappies and formula are required.

Ms Donaldson said: "We want to thank everyone who donates to us while we continue to help those less fortunate living within our community which is growing at a rapid rate and becoming a very scary reality."

The Salvation Army in Penrith also has a Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/penrith-salvation-army.