Food banks across Kent have reacted to the 'dreadful' increase in demand since the Covid-19 lockdown started, with some saying the surge is just the beginning.

The Trussell Trust, a network of food banks across the UK, today announced its busiest-ever period, with 81% more emergency food parcels given out in the last two weeks of March compared to the same period in 2019.

But some areas have seen an even sharper increase than the national figures.

The Trussell Trust food bank in Swale, which supports people in Sheerness and Sittingbourne, has seen a 150% increase in demand.

The food bank provided 337 emergency food parcels in the last two weeks of March, up from 112 the previous year.

Esther Hurwood, project manager of the food bank, said she could not believe the extent of the increase.

She said: "When I actually looked at those figures I got goosebumps, a horrible feeling."

Alongside the overall increase in Swale, the number of children the food bank supported in the same period was up 363%.

Mrs Hurwood added: "What we're seeing happening here is almost like the beginning, and it's going to get worse.

"Economically I can't even imagine how we're going to recover from this as a country any time soon."

The food bank manager said colleagues across the trust had spent the past 18 months hoping the next decade would see an end to the demand for emergency food.

She said: "We were talking about how great it would be if we were not needed in the next five years - now we're thinking we're still going to be here for at least that long."

"What we're seeing happening here is almost like the beginning, and it's going to get worse..."

Elsewhere in the county has also seen a significant rise in the number of people needing help.

Sheila Ward, who manages the Trussell Trust food bank in Deal, said many people asking for assistance are doing so because of the long wait for Universal Credit, or the fact they have fallen through the gaps in the government's furlough schemes.

She said: "A gentleman came in yesterday who was referred by Dover District Council, who two months ago did not qualify for the government bailout.

"He was then told to apply for Universal Credit on 17 March, and has had to wait for two months without any money at all."

Responding to the increase, Mrs Ward added: "It’s an appalling number, I didn’t think it would be that high. It’s dreadful."

In Medway, the Trussell Trust food bank has helped out 291 people this week, compared to last year's daily average of 134.

Lorraine Schulze, manage of the Medway food bank, said: "It has been distressing at times to see the level of need that some people are finding themselves in.

"One guy walked a mile or so to get food bank help.

"He had been working in telecoms three weeks ago but was now living in his van as he had been unable to pay rent, and was waiting for his first Universal Credit payment to come through.

"The five plus week wait for Universal Credit is making life extremely difficult for people."

The Trussell Trust is not the only charity reporting an increase in demand across the country.

The Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) reported a record level of need, with an average 59% increase from February to March - 17 times higher than this time last year.

Now, a coalition of charities - including the Trussell Trust, IFAN, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Children’s Society, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, StepChange and Turn2us - is urging the government to do more to help protect people from being “swept into destitution” amid a huge rise in applications for Universal Credit in recent weeks.

Thomas Lawson, chief executive as Turn2Us, said: "Food banks across the country have been providing critical support to people in the face of the growing income crisis that we are experiencing as a country.

"The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated this and is driving even more people into financial crisis.

"What people need is a Coronavirus Emergency Income Support Scheme, so they have the income they need to put food on the table.

"The government must make the safety net catch everyone who falls into hardship."

For all the latest coronavirus news, click here

Read more: All the latest news from Kent