Thousands of children could go hungry as food bank use is set to soar in the next few weeks, say leading food bank charity the Trussell Trust.

Figures show that the amount of children using food banks in the West Midlands rose by more than a fifth, to 6,600, in July and August last year. The 17 per cent increase on the previous two months was the second biggest 'summertime rise' in the country.

The Trussell Trust, which operates 420 food banks in the UK, said they expect figures to rise again this some and are urging people to donate more.

Karen Mitchell from the CVS in Swadlincote said: "Lots of the families we help receive free school dinners, so when it is the holiday there's another meal they need to find.

"A lot of places where we get our deliveries from often go to schools as well for their breakfast clubs, and a lot of children that we help go to these clubs."

The CVS in Swadlincote are appealing for donations

The CVS has recently appealed for more donations, as stocks are running low. Bosses are urgently appealing for donations of UHT milk, coffee, biscuits, pasta, tuna and other tinned meats to help people in need put food on the table.

The South Derbyshire charity supplies emergency food parcels for people who have been referred to them, and also operates a community fridge where anybody can help themselves to food if they are in need.

Operations manager for the Trussell Trust, Samantha Stapley said: "We welcome the government's decision to maintain free school lunches for children during term time - the next step must be to help families during the holidays.

"Foodbanks are doing more than ever before but voluntary organisations alone cannot stop primary school children facing hunger."

The trust handed out an additional 4,000 emergency food parcels to children last summer.

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