A trust in Ashford which runs a food bank, community fridge and shop has helped thousands through the pandemic and is continuing to support residents amid the cost of living crisis.

Repton Community Trust's shop evolved as the team wanted to try to find a long-term solution to food insecurity, giving residents the chance to get £20 worth of shopping for just £4.

Chief executive of the trust, Beth Rice, says the projects are "non-ticketed" meaning that anyone who needs help, can get it.

"We're all in it together," she said.

"Everyone is affected somehow by the cost of living crisis, whether it's to a smaller degree or a larger degree, so a community fridge is a great way to help each other.

"There's no stigma, there's no referral process, you don't have to bring a ticket in. It is, if you need, it if you want it, you can have it."

Their community shop, named Community Square, means that people only have to pay £1 for £5 worth of items up to the value of £20.

This particularly helped volunteer and local resident Sandra Pietrzak one month when she had a big unexpected bill.

"I broke my front tooth and had to go private because my regular dentist had Covid."

The 85-year-old added: "It cost £490 which is a month's money gone."

Luckily Ms Pietzak got reimbursed, but during that month she used the community fridge and shop a lot more than usual.

Ms Rice said that amid the cost of living crisis there have been a lot more people using the community shop as well as requests for emergency food parcels.

"Because the cost of fuel has increased massively, and the cost of food," she said.

"There are also a lot of people who are working that also need support from us at the moment."

She added that they have seen a 'massive increase' in the number of people using their services.

"Although we have seen a drop in donations, we do have a lot of people that are running events for us and people that are donating to us.

"Fair Share support us every week as well as the local supermarkets who provide us with amazing donations on a weekly basis which really helps support our communities."

During the pandemic, the community fridge grew into a community led food bank, named the People's Pantry which Michelle Knight is the projects manager of.

"I started volunteering at Repton Connect in early March 2020, right before Covid hit," Ms Knight said.

"I was initially helping with cleaning, then took an interest in the People’s Pantry and how that worked, helping pack food parcels for those in need."

Ms Rice said the team ended up supporting thousands of people throughout the pandemic.

Ms Pietrzak added that she can't thank the community centre enough for the help they offered her during the lockdowns.

"The hardest time with Covid was being stuck inside so I can't thank the community centre enough for bringing everyone together," she said.

"I don't think I would have stayed here without the community centre because I was so lonely so really it's been a life saver."