CHEPSTOW foodbank is taking part in a national campaign to help people and families on low incomes who struggle to afford food.

From April-September 2015, the foodbank has noticed a drop in the number of people using the service from the previous period last year.

In 2014, the foodbank issued 514 emergency three day food supplies compared to 493 in 2015 but the figures are still worryingly high according to Trussell Trust’s UK foodbank director Adrian Curtis.

“We’re seeing that hunger remains a major issue for low income families and individuals,” he said.

“The latest foodbank figures are still at worryingly high levels.”

Of the 493 emergency three day supplies in Chepstow, 149 of the packages were to children, and Mr Curtis is concerned about the future provision regarding the changes in UK tax credits.

“When the proposed changes to tax credits are implemented, we are concerned that more working families will not be able to make ends meet,” he said.

“We could see a substantial rise in foodbank use as a result.”

The Chepstow foodbank belongs to the same group in Monmouthshire as those operating in Monmouth and Abergavenny.

The national campaign is organised by Tesco as part of the Tesco Neighbourhood Food Collection –_ #everycanhelps – and will take place on December 4 and 5 at the Chepstow Store on Station Road.

The foodbank in Chepstow is urging people to donate the following items as a priority: sugar, coffee, tinned meat and UHT fruit juice.