A DROITWICH mother has thanked the town's Foodbank for helping her to feed her family this Christmas.

The 32-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, blamed "low benefits" for her need to use the Droitwich Spa Foodbank to help provide for her four young children.

During her visit to the facility in the run up to Christmas Day, she said: "It is a weight lifted off knowing there is food available for the kids.

"I think it is brilliant. It will tide us over the Christmas period."

However the single parent admitted finding it difficult to approach the foodbank for help.

She said: "We knew about it but I didn't have the courage, I just felt embarrassed, you feel ashamed. It is not that we can't provide, it's that we can't give them enough.

"It can be hard but I do not let it on, I do not tell people I just try and struggle on. Sometimes I do go without myself."

Volunteers at the Foodbank have been very busy this Christmas, feeding dozens of families during December alone.

Meanwhile, plenty of community groups, businesses and schools have held collections to donate food and household items to the Foodbank this winter.

Mary Stanbury, who manages the Trussel Trust-run foodbank with her husband David, said: "It has been very busy, we have had a terrific increase in the number of clients. Compared to last year it must have at least doubled, if not trebled."

Mr Stanbury said: "Public support has been amazing over the Christmas period and throughout the year, in terms of people being volunteers, people donating food and people donating money.

"The latter is necessary for running costs and from time to time for purchasing goods that we need for example, nappies and laundry products.

"It has been especially useful with the run up to Christmas to work closely with our referral agencies: WANDS, Fortis Living, St Vincent de Paul and Age UK to provide food for local people in need.

"This last year has been, I think, very important for our local foodbank.

"There were occasions early in the year when I felt that the sustainability of the foodbank was in doubt. The need was evident but there were reasons, such as accommodation for the warehouse and Foodbank Centre that could have meant that our future was in doubt.

"Now, with having become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and the move to the Baptist church, everything is far more secure - and we remain indebted to Wychavon DC for the warehouse provision."

During a recent visit to the Foodbank, Droitwich MP Nigel Huddleston, took a tour of the facilities and met some people who use the Foodbank.

He said: "I was really impressed by everything I saw on my visit. The food storage facility is quite an operation.

"The food that is generously donated by local residents, schools and retailers is received, categorised, sorted and packaged in a very methodical and professional manner so that nothing goes to waste.

"At the foodbank itself, the volunteers have created a very friendly and positive atmosphere so that everyone feels welcome."

After meeting some of the families who use the Foodbank, Mr Huddleston said he would work to tackle the root causes of people finding themselves in need of its services.

He said: "I am committed to playing my part as an MP in tackling low pay by supporting the living wage and reducing taxes; and will make sure that the relevant ministers are aware that, despite some progress recently, benefit payment issues are still causing problems to my constituents and implore them to work on further improvements."

The foodbank is open twice a week, on Tuesday from 12.20pm to 2.30pm and on Friday, from 2pm to 4pm.

It is next open on Tuesday, December 29.

Clients using the centre are referred from agencies such as Fortis Living and Age UK and use vouchers to redeem food packages.

About 40 volunteers regularly give time to work at the foodbank and since opening in July 2014, more than 1,080 people have been fed, 16,367 tonnes of food donated and 11,434 tonnes of food handed out.

For more information about the foodbank visit droitwichspa.foodbank.org.uk or to make a donation visit the centre in Winnetts Lane.