ORGANISERS of the Liskeard and Looe Foodbank, which helps people in crisis, say they have had an overwhelming response during the Harvest Festival period .

More than 1.3tonnes of food was donated by 14 schools and many churches and chapels, enabling 130 food boxes to be made up, supplying 1,300 meals.

On behalf of the foodbank Rob Humphreys said: 'We have been overwhelmed by the goodwill, the keen involvement and the massive encouragement we have experienced in the last couple of months. It's all about local people helping local people.'

At the Liskeard warehouse, from where all the food is packed and delivered, project manager David Berry said many more people were now making donations on a regular basis which is a huge boost for the foodbank. David added that it is very important that the support is ongoing as the numbers of those needing help is still increasing.

'We are finding that, alarmingly, we are having more and more young families being referred to us,' he said.

'They are really struggling with the rising cost of household bills and feeding the family on low wages. The foodbank is for everyone in need.'

There is to be a collection day at Morrisons, Liskeard, on Saturday, December 3, and there is a permanent collection point in Liskeard Co-operative Store.

Callington Foodbank is now up and running and Saltash is expected to have one in the new year.