USAGE of food banks doubled in Flintshire last Christmas, figures from the UK's biggest food bank network show.

The Trussell Trust is bracing for its busiest ever Christmas, with figures suggesting a record numbers of people in need will seek support this December.

In Flintshire, the charity handed out 1,181 three-day emergency food parcels last December, equivalent to 267 every week – with almost half of those parcels going to children (49 per cent).

It meant the charity dished out 585 more parcels in the area than it did on average each month during 2018-19 – an increase of 98 per cent.

Meanwhile, separate figures published by the charity show 8 per cent more food parcels were provided between April and September than the same six months just a year before – meaning demand will is likely to be even higher this winter.

Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie warned that communities across the country are being pushed into poverty and said that “food banks cannot and should not have to continue to pick up the pieces”.

She said: "Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration – but for too many people it’s becoming harder and harder to keep their heads above water.

The number of food parcels handed out across the charity's UK sites last December was 44 per cent higher than the monthly average for the year.

More than 186,000 parcels were given away during the month, of which two in five went to children.

Since the figures do not include hundreds of other independent food banks dotted around the country, many more parcels are likely to have been distributed over the period.

Ms Revie wants candidates in the upcoming General Election to pledge to protect people from hunger.

She said: "Our next government must start working towards a future where no one needs a food bank. It is in our power to reach a future where everyone has enough money for the basics. This can change."