A foodbank in Tunbridge Wells says it is preparing for a 200% increase in demand for food parcels this Christmas because of Covid-19.

The festive season has always been a busy time for volunteers at Nourish Community Foodbank but the pandemic means this year their services will have to stretch even further with referrals reaching an all time high.

The charity's Operations Manager Dawn Stanford said: "We have been blown away by the financial gifts and food donations that we have received from the local community to support those in need.

"However, the sad reality is that numbers are rising week on week, and we are preparing to deal with a peak at Christmas where we may be delivering to around 150%, to 200% more people than an average week pre-Covid 19."

During the summer holidays demand doubled that of pre-covid times and saw 200 weekly household referrals.

In previous years, the charity has run The Reverse Advent Calendar Christmas Campaign, encouraging supporters to purchase a food item a day from its most wanted list.

But with the coronavirus restrictions in place, this year its winter campaign has taken a slightly different approach.

Instead of volunteering time or delivering parcels, the charity is asking schools, individuals, businesses and groups to donate £1 a day for the 12 days of Christmas.

Alternatively, people can support families in need by donating £20 to cover the cost of a Christmas dinner.

It hopes doing this will keep volunteers safe and able to socially distance, while keeping the vital service running.

It also means shoppers won't have the pressure of buying anything other than essential items for themselves.

Miss Stanford added: "Nobody sees Christmas as something they just want to get through, it's something they want to look forward to and if we can take some of that worry away by giving them a meal they wouldn't otherwise have I think that is amazing.

"Lockdown for us the first time around felt never ending.

"We saw so many clients in such a short space of time and a lot of people were those we had never seen before, those who really never thought they would ever need to use a foodbank.

"Some people were expecting to come out of furlough and go back into work, things were starting to open slowly, and then that all changed very quickly.

"We saw referrals we were expecting to finish extended for a few more weeks."

Schools wanting to take part in the £1 for the 12 days of Christmas campaign can download a special Christmas tree card with baubles to collect their coins.

The team will then pick up the donations to purchase food for children, who account for around 44% of the people they will support.

Those interested in taking part can contact admin@nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk

Alternatively, to buy a family in crisis a Christmas dinner, Text FOOD £20 to 70085.

Read more: All the latest news from Tunbridge Wells