THE Black Country Foodbank in Halesowen has seen demand rocket by 75 per cent in the last year.

The startling statistic emerged during the same week national foodbank network The Trussell Trust revealed one in three people in the UK relying on foodbanks are children.

Labour's parliamentary candidate Stephanie Peacock delivered eight bags of essentials from the GMB union before Christmas to help to cope with the festive demand.

She said: “The Black Country Foodbank has seen demand rise by 75 per cent in a year. It is a sad reality that many people now rely on support of our local food bank.

"It's hard to imagine that in this day and age, half a million people are going hungry and turning to charity to feed themselves and their family. "

She added: "Local volunteers tell me of the stories of job instability, low pay, zero hours contracts and the bedroom tax, all contributory factors to a massive rise in demand for foodbanks.

"According to the Trussell Trust around half of the people they are helping through food banks are in work. One in three of those fed by food banks are children."

Miss Peacock urged people to donate food and household goods to the foodbank.

She said: "The Black Country Foodbank particularly needs food such as long life milk, tinned food and household goods like toilet roll.

"People are having to choose between heating or food."

She added: "It is heart breaking that children, particularly at Christmas, have to rely on charity to stave off hunger."

To support the Black Country Food Bank visit www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk.