Massive energy bill hikes have left many parents choosing between buying food and heating their homes.

One mum-of-three says rising bills left her with just £4 in her bank account, before she was forced to turn to Canterbury Food Bank (CFB) for help.

The charity has seen a huge rise in calls from families since energy prices rose this month by an average of 54%.

Many have seen their monthly gas and electricity bills double amid the cost-of-living crisis, with inflation now at 7%.

Some callers to the food bank have been in tears, living with their families in cold, darkened homes they cannot afford to heat.

One Canterbury mum says the energy crisis - coupled with rising petrol prices, and having three children at home for the Easter holidays - has left her struggling.

The family-of-five’s income is typically about £800 a month, in the form of Personal Independence Payment and benefits paid to the mum, who is registered disabled, and her husband, who is her full-time carer.

'Each day staff at the food bank sit at the end of their shifts with their head in their hands close to tears...'

But rising gas and electricty prices mean they must now fork out an extra £58 a month - about £700 a year.

In the first 12 days of April alone, the family spent £120 on pay-as-you-go energy bills.

“With the kids at home eating three meals a day and snacks, we just don’t have enough,” said the mum, who wishes to remain anonymous. “It just doesn’t stretch.

“We don’t want to have to choose between heating and eating.

“I’ve been turning the heating off during the day as much as I can, using it as little as possible,” she said. “We’re using extra blankets and things.”

The mum found herself with just £4 in her bank, before she turned to CFB for help.

“It was difficult,” she said. “You feel sort of embarrassed to ask, but at the same time you know that you’ve got to feed your children.

“It’s just allowed us to breathe for a second.”

The mum is grateful for CFB’s food parcels, which have included Easter eggs for the children. But she worries about the long-term future.

“I’m hoping with the summer coming, we can top up our gas and electricity so we have some credit on there in the winter,” she said.

“We’re just going to try to cut back on things as much as possible, shop around, find cheaper places to buy food.”

Tragically, her story is far from unique.

CFB operations director Angela Gardiner said: “I spoke to a man yesterday who was sitting with his family in a cold, dark house because he couldn’t afford to heat it or turn on the lights.

“He was in tears. I could hear in his voice that he was scared.

“By arranging a food parcel it will hopefully free up some money to pay for the utilities.

“But we provide food for people in a short-term emergency crisis and I can’t see a way out of this situation.

“It’s not short-term. This family and many more need help every week.

“Each day staff at the food bank sit at the end of their shifts with their head in their hands close to tears.”

CFB describes the effect of energy price increases as “a social emergency”, and is calling for the government to take urgent action.

Chair Martin Ward said: “It was obvious months ago what would happen when the energy price cap was lifted and that disaster has arrived.

“Thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of people have now been plunged into poverty.

“No one should have to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table, but that is the case here.

“We are urgently looking at ways we may be able to alleviate this crisis but only decisive action by government can truly resolve the problem.”

The charity provides emergency food parcels to individuals and families in financial need across Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and surrounding villages.

Anyone who can not afford to buy food can make contact via its website or by ringing 01227 936450.