Record numbers of families used a food bank over Christmas, we can reveal.

The Messenger launched a Christmas appeal to support the food banks in Dartford and Gravesham, asking for donations of dried, tinned or packet food to help those facing hunger over the festive period.

And it seems more and more people turned to their food banks for help over Christmas.

In Gravesham, 65 families received emergency parcels in a week over the festive period, the highest number of weekly users since the Trussell Trust opened in September 2012.

The food bank’s organiser Pastor David Idowu said the figures were growing evidence of hunger affecting residents. He said: “There has been a surge of demand over the Christmas period.

“We had 65 families use the food bank during the week, which we have never had before. It’s a record for us since we first opened.”

Mr Idowu added: “We are seeing people fall below the poverty line where they often make a choice between food and bills.

“That’s when they turn to food banks to fill in the gap because they cannot cope.”

The rise comes as the charity braced itself to step up operations in Gravesham by moving the service to the Riverside Community Centre, in Dickens Road, Gravesend, to run five days a week.

But concerns remain over running costs at the Riverside, and Mr Idowu issued a fresh appeal for donations to help the move.

In Dartford, 110 people visited the food bank at The Vineyard Centre in Market Street last Tuesday, with a similar turnout expected on Tuesday this week.

The centre remained open for single people, families and rough sleepers one day a week over Christmas.

Co-ordinator Sue Waterman said there had not been a huge increase compared to users last year but more homeless people were using food banks.

She said: “It was pretty manic but although we were kept busy it was so rewarding to help people in the run-up for Christmas.”