FOOD banks in Dorset are in need of donations as they cater for an increasing number of families struggling to make ends meet this Christmas.

National foodbank charity the Trussell Trust, which has outlets in Dorset, has revealed increasing numbers of families and children needing their support, with things expected to get worse at Christmas with the extra expense that comes with it.

Meanwhile, Rosemarie Husain, who helps run the independent Portland foodbank, said: "It is heating up now and more and more families are having to rely on foodbanks with bills and Christmas coming up.

"At Christmas we will be handing out hampers with all the Christmas treats like Christmas puddings, chocolate and biscuits."

Chris Nowell, from the committee-run Dorchester foodbank, said he is experiencing a similar trend: "In the first six months of this year we were 16 per cent up on the previous year.

"We have noticed that there are more families coming in. When we first started it was single people but now it's families who are just struggling to make ends meet."

Almost 1,000 extra emergency food parcels were handed out at Trussell Trust food banks in Gillingham and Bournemouth between April and September, with 6,740 three-day emergency food parcels handed out in this period.

More than a third of these (2,419) went to children.

According to the Trussell Trust, the number of food parcels it handed out across the UK in the six months to September rose by 23 per cent compared to the previous year, the sharpest increase recorded by the charity for five years.

More than a third of food parcels – 300,000 – went to children during this period.

Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie warned that problems with Universal Credit were pushing people into poverty, claiming the wait for initial payments under the system a key factor behind food-bank use.

She said: "Our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty, but currently thousands of women, men and children are not receiving sufficient protection from destitution.

"This is not right. But we know this situation can be fixed – our benefits system could be the key to unlocking people from poverty.

"It’s in our power as a country to end the need for food banks. This can change.”

Donations of tinned and dried foods are required at food banks.

Weymouth Food Bank is located in Weymouth Baptist Church on Esplanade, and is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10.30am-12.30pm. Portland Food Bank is in St John’s Church Hall, Ventnor Lane, and is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 9.30am-11.30am. Dorchester Foodbank is located in Dorchester Community Church and is open Mondays 12pm-2pm, Wednesdays 10am-12pm and Fridays 10am-12pm.