Hard-up families struggling with living costs could soon help themselves to food from community fridges set up across the city.

Residents will be able to drop off and pick up perishable items from locations around Canterbury, thanks to the new initiative.

Alex Vellis, 34, decided to launch the project after himself being forced to rely on food banks.

"You won't need to be referred by a doctor, you won't need to go and speak to the Department for Work and Pensions," he said.

"You can just nip in quickly, take something as and when you need it - and maybe, when you've got yourself back on your feet a little bit, you can go back and donate something.

"Much like a food bank it will be all sorts of things, but we're aiming for just perishable goods, whether it be a banana or yoghurt, sandwiches or ready meals."

The initiative is being launched by a Community Interest Company (CIC) called Giving 1%, which was founded by Alex three years ago and is a cause close to his heart.

"I have found it difficult at times to get the things that I need to survive..."

"I have been poor for almost my entire life," he explained.

"As an adult I have been particularly skint, and I have found it difficult at times to get the things that I need to survive.

"If you lose a job or can't find a job, and you're really struggling or you're having to go to food banks, it takes a tremendous toll on your mental health.

"I don't want anyone to have to feel the way I have felt in those situations."

Alex says that without a job he has recently found as a data entry clerk, he would struggle to cover even his "very basic needs" in the current cost-of-living crisis.

The community fridges aim to help residents left hungry amid soaring food prices, but will be open to everyone.

"In a perfect world I'd like to see it used by no-one - it wouldn't be needed at all," said Alex.

"But if that's not the case, I'd like to see literally anyone using it.

"If you cannot afford to eat for whatever reason - you've left your bank card at home, or you're skint, or you're running to work and don't have time to go to Tesco - if you're hungry you should eat."

Hundreds of struggling district residents already receive food parcels from Canterbury Food Bank, where demand has doubled in the last year - a trend it links to rising prices for fuel and shopping.

But the charity largely deals with non-perishable goods such as tinned and dried foods, rather than fresh items.

Community fridges have already been successfully rolled out in places such as Frome in Somerset.

Giving 1% hopes to raise £450 for its first display fridge, which will be housed and stocked by a vegetarian and vegan CIC in Canterbury.

But Alex hopes to then set up more fridges at other locations across the city.

Those keen to help fund the fridge are asked to visit Giving 1% on Facebook for more information on how to donate.