A food bank in Kent has spent four times as much on supplies in the last fortnight than it did in the previous three years.

The branch in Canterbury says it has seen a spike in demand in recent weeks as the coronavirus crisis continues to plunge residents into financial difficulty.

The charity - which supports households across the city, Whitstable and Herne Bay - launched a fundraising appeal last month to help fund new stock amid a slump in food donations.

Branch chairman Martin Ward said: "It is unusual for us to use cash to buy supplies because the public has always supported us so well by donating food. But coronavirus has changed everything.

"In just a fortnight, we have spent four times as much on food as we spent in three whole years."

Over the last seven days, the charity supplied enough ingredients to make 1,800 meals - about three times its weekly average.

The food bank also revealed at the end of last month that it had used the £17,000 already raised from its appeal to buy food and household goods.

However, it says donations of long-life milk, tinned vegetables, pasta sauces, instant mashed potato, cereal, jam and laundry powder are urgently needed.

“These are worrying times and no-one knows when things will improve, but we will continue helping those who are least able to help themselves," Mr Ward continued.

“People can be part of that by donating to the appeal or by leaving badly-needed food and household essentials at our supermarket bins.”

The charity has donation baskets for people to leave items in all leading supermarket branches across the district.

To donate to its GoFundMe page, click here.

If you are in need of emergency food, visit canterburyfoodbank.org.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

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