IMPOVERISHED families and individuals turning to a foodbank charity for help are receiving support for unprecedented periods of time.

Bosses at the Barrow-based charity - which supports people across the Furness peninsula and in Millom - used to issue three-day food packs to people in need.

Now they are handing out six-week parcels with increasing regularity as people find themselves gripped by poverty for longer.

On Friday, the foodbank had just four week's worth of food on its barren shelves - although kind-hearted locals provided a weekend boost to resources.

Deputy foodbank manager Alison Griffiths, said: "The support has been amazing since The Mail launched its appeal.

"A lady called by on Friday and said she had a few things for us. When I got to her car, the boot was packed full of food.

"Things have improved slightly but we are still in desperate need of food."

The Mail made a special donation of £500 last week after convening an emergency meeting of its charitable trust panel.

Further cash donations have been made, bringing a timely boost to the organisation.

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Foodbank manager Ann Mills, said: "We have had large donations and smaller ones, but every one counts and we are so grateful.

"We had to make a special trip to Tesco at the weekend because donations had been so plentiful. That was unprecedented. We had only been the day before, so to be called less than 24 hours later was incredible."

The food collected from Tesco - which weighed 175kg - is enough to generate 500 meals for those most in need.

Demand for the services of the charity will increase when schools break up and the summer holidays begin.

John Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness, is planning to hold a collection for the foodbank. But he has lashed out at their very existence saying: "The explosion of foodbank use is a national disgrace - so many families are trying to do the right thing but simply cannot make ends meet.

"The dire need in this area has stretched Barrow and Ulverston foodbanks to the limit and I know that local people will want to reach out to their own by making a contribution to boost supplies.

"My team and I will be encouraging people to donate next week, inspired by the brilliant foodbank volunteers who give up their time to help people out."