News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The spiralling cost of living and changes to the benefits system has left one town with more food banks than supermarkets.

More and more struggling families in Rhyl, north Wales, have been forced to rely on food donations leaving stocks stripped bare.

North Wales Live reports, charity Trussell Trust will be opening a fourth food bank in the town to help cope with demand on the other three.

It will run from Sussex Street Christian Centre and operate alongside the others in the area, which include The King's Storehouse, Foryd Community Centre and the ASK Centre.

(Image: PA)

The Trussell Trust has more than 1,200 food bank centres across their UK network and help provide a minimum of three days' nutritionally-balanced emergency food to people who have been referred in crisis.

Rachel Round is heading up the Trussell Trust project and said that despite the ongoing regeneration in Rhyl, there are still many families going hungry.

She said: "As Christians we recognise that we have a duty to care for those who find themselves in need of help and support.

"That help will be available to everyone irrespective of their beliefs or non-beliefs.

(Image: Daily Post Wales)

"We recognise that ending hunger is about more than food.

"We will provide compassionate, practical support to people in crisis in order to tackle the root causes that lock them into poverty and build people’s resilience so they are less likely to need a food bank in the future.

"Where requested we will refer those in need of help to other partner agencies who can help with specific issues."

Earlier this year, the King's Storehouse stocks said it had been "hammered" by people struggling to live off Universal Credit , with some having to wait as long as eight weeks for money under the controversial benefit reform.

(Image: Daily Post Wales)

Several times, volunteers had to issue urgent appeals for help after shelves were depleted by demand.

One volunteer described the situations people are living in as "scary" adding "people are basically being left to rot".

One was an elderly lady whose husband died without leaving a will, forcing her to turn to the food bank because she couldn't access his bank account.

Last year, the food bank, which is an arm of the Wellspring Christian Centre, had to put a block on "relentless" referrals because they were "run ragged."

(Image: Kings Storehouse)

Food bank use nationally has seen a steep rise with Universal Credit being blamed.

The new benefit combines six existing benefits and the government says it is aimed at "helping people into work" and simplifying the old system.

It's been the subject of huge controversy, with delays in claimants receiving money well documented.

But the Department for Work and Pensions say Universal Credit is a "force for good" and replaces a "rigid and constrictive system, which deterred people taking up work opportunities."

They say their research shows that many people join UC with pre-existing arrears, but that number falls by a third after four months.

The reasons for people using food banks are "complex," and it would be wrong to link a rise to any one cause, they said.

Vale of Clwyd MP, Chris Ruane said: "We are lucky here in the Vale of Clwyd that we have strong, committed network of volunteers across the constituency who are prepared to give their time and donations to ensure that children, families and individuals are not going hungry.

“However, the increase in the number of food banks and the increase in the number of people using them – many of those are actually in work – is a damning indictment of the Conservative government’s austerity programme over the past nine years.

“They should be ashamed of themselves for this, they should be ashamed of the massive increase in the ever growing number of people who we see sleeping on the streets or in temporary housing due to the intentional delays put into the Universal Credit system.

“There are too many people who are having to walk a financial tightrope, living from day-to-day and not having the means to cope when there is a fall in their income and so having to rely on food banks.

“The government should be listening to those who run food banks, advice organisations, local authorities and others who have consistently pointed out the failings in the system and address these as a priority.”