THERE were over 2,000 referrals to food banks in North Ayrshire from April to September with 643 of them being children, according to figures released this week.

Statistics revealed by the Trussell Trust showed that based on emergency food aid, the number of referrals in North Ayrshire was 2005 over the five month period.

Overall, the number of food bank referrals in Scotland has increased to over 60,000 in the last quarter and 44 per cent of these were for benefit delays and cuts.

North Ayrshire foodbank organiser, Craig Crosthwaite, believes the numbers are too high but has praised the volunteers who help out.

He said: “These figures are far too high and there are too many children and families in the area who are having to depend on foodbanks.

Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson has expressed alarm at the growth in foodbank use in Scotland.

He told the Herald: “These alarming figures represent 60,000 occasions where people in Scotland were in such dire straits that they could not afford to eat and on almost 20,000 occasions this happened to a family with children.

For the full story, see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.