About 30 families are to be helped this Christmas thanks to generous members of a church.

St Peter’s Church, in College Road, Hextable, is planning to distribute about 30 hampers to families in the area that are in need.

Church ordinand Adam Price said: “The hampers contain everything needed for a family to have a full and tasty Christmas lunch plus a few extra goodies like mince pies, nuts, chocolates and a few small presents.

“Social Services are really grateful for the involvement of the church in helping to ease the plight of some of their families at this time of year.

“I had a call from them this morning about a local family. A single mum with six kids, all of them crammed into a two-bed house and they’ve been struggling to make ends meet since the benefit cap was introduced.

“Now their problems are so bad there’s a possibility that they could even soon be evicted.”

He added: “We’d like to thank Stanhill Farm Food of Birchwood Road, who have provided some boxes of fruit and veg at a low cost, and also to S. Clark Butchers of Joyden’s Wood, who are providing some turkeys at about cost price.”

A report this week revealed that Kent has seen an alarming surge in foodbank use in just three years.

Just two years ago, fewer than 200 families asked for help. In seven months alone this year, 7,000 people have been given food to survive.

Mr Price added: “I’m sure you’re well aware, but things are getting pretty desperate for many people within our local communities and theirs is a voice that needs to be desperately heard.”