A WOMAN from South East Cornwall is training to run in the London Marathon next month to raise funds for the local food bank.

Jackie Taylor, from Herodsfoot, aims to help the Liskeard and Looe Foodbank by running in the April 21 marathon and she is training hard by running with her pigmy goats Blossom and Baptista, who are enjoying the extra exercise.

Jackie said: 'I set myself the challenge of running a marathon for my 50th birthday, so trained up and ran the Dublin Marathon in October. I am now very pleased to be involved in the London event raising funds for the foodbank.'

One of her sponsors has written: 'Go the Herodsfoot Hurricane. We're all behind you – way behind you!'

The Liskeard and Looe Foodbank is currently so busy that it has outgrown its present premises and organisers say demand on its resources was up by 50 per cent this January compared with last year.

The national welfare charity The Trussel Trust, under whose umbrella the local foodbank runs, has advised that the busy branch should be seeking larger premises, as they expect demand for food from people in need to rise by between 50 and 100 per cent in the coming months and years due to changes in the welfare system.

David Berry, local project manager, said an ideal industrial unit offering 1,000 sq ft near Liskeard town centre had already been earmarked.

'It is the last one available and we are concerned we may not be able to raise enough funds in time to take on the lease,' he said. 'We have an application out for some grant funding, and we would be grateful for any local donations. It would be local money going to local people in need.'

Last year the foodbank helped 670 adults and 341 children. Anyone who would like to help the foodbank with donations or would like to help in other ways should call David Berry on 07512011452 or email: Liskeard. [email protected]">[email protected]

To sponsor Jackie Taylor, donate online at https://my">https://my

donate.bt.com/