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A HEARTBROKEN food bank champion described this as the worst Christmas he has experienced in more than two decades.

In a sobering plea to the News, Loaves and Fishes chairman Denis Curran laid bare the shocking extent of the plight of poverty in East Kilbride today.

The anti-poverty campaigner revealed dozens of desperate mothers and fathers with young children were queuing round the entire building of the Kelvin-based charity in the bitter cold to receive a food parcel this Christmas.

Denis said: “In my 24 years involved with the Loaves and Fishes I have just experienced the worst Christmas.

“I had people queuing right round our unit for food, mothers and fathers with small children standing in the rain and cold to get a handout in 2016.

“In an educated country people are routinely being humiliated by having to beg for food. This did not even happen during the war.

“I remember going with my mum to the grocers and she would hand over a ration book token then, just like everyone else, go into her purse and pay for goods received.

“During the war years right up to 1953 things were hard but food was bought.

“Now in the 21st century people are coming to a food bank because they have no money to buy food. Yes they may have a colour TV, bought when things were better, but now their lives have changed.

“To come to a food bank asking for help to feed their children – not a dry eye, faces filled with despair – begging for a toy, chil-

dren not understanding why their mum or dad is crying.

“Do people know what it takes to say to a stranger ‘can you feed my children?’

“It’s humiliating but it’s not their fault.”

In 2014 Denis, who received an MBE for his dedication to running the charity, made an impassioned plea to the Scottish Parliament about the plight of people who come through his doors on a daily basis.

His appeal went viral and donations flooded in from all over the UK but even after he and his volunteers distribute hundreds of food parcels, toys and toiletries over each festive period loads of food packages are still needed.

In just one week last Christmas Loaves and Fishes gave out more than 300 hampers and the desperate situation reached critical levels over the 2016 festive season.

Denis urged politicians to unite in giving back proper benefits which allow those in despair the right to buy food for their families.

He said: “We are back in the days of Normans and Saxons, only there is no Robin Hood.”

Denis described mothers walking three to four miles in the rain with children, asking for anything at all to help feed their families.”

This week Denis said: “The government should hang their heads in shame. None of them would be sitting down to a Christmas meal of a Fray Bentos steak and kidney pie shared with five.

“When are those in power going to admit that what they are doing is wrong, unjust and immoral?

“The basic right to eat has been taken away from those who need it most.”

But Denis thanked everyone who donated to the foodbank, saying: “People in despair need people who care.”