THE organiser of an Ebbw Vale project giving emergency food aid to people in crisis expects demand to rise as the cold weather continues and Christmas approaches.

Festival Church’s food bank has fed more than 1,700 people since it was set up two years ago and saw demand double as Christmas approached last year.

The project normally sees between six and eight individuals and families each week - but organisers expect this to rise to at least ten as the cold snap continues.

During the first three weeks of December last year, the project gave food parcels to 118 people from 43 families - including 63 children.

Project manager Adrian Curtis said: "The pinch on people’s finances gets tighter at Christmas.

"People are also beginning to struggle as the impact of the recent cold weather is felt, because prices of utilities rise and they find themselves unable to pay for everyday items."

Clients are given food vouchers by local agencies, such as social services, when they have no other means of getting food and these can be exchanged for food parcels containing dried and tinned foods, which are designed to last three days.

Among those the food bank helps are people who have lost their jobs, become homeless, been made bankrupt or left abusive relationships.

Food collections are held at local churches, schools and businesses and the project currently has between two and three tonnes of food in stock.

The food bank has around 30 volunteers who pack up food and has recently started offering specialist advice on how impoverished people can seek help through Oxfam’s Sustainable Livelihoods scheme.

The food bank is overseen by the Trussell Trust, which runs more than 50 food banks across the UK, including ones in Blackwood and Risca.

To organise a food collection event at a school, church or group call the food bank office 01495 352223.