WALLINGFORD foodbank organisers are calling for more volunteers after experiencing their busiest year yet.

They want help running the foodbank, which launched in 2011 and last month handed out a record number of food parcels to 97 individuals.

The organisation, backed by the town’s churches, is run by Neville Burt and his wife Jean, who expect an increase in demand in 2016.

Mrs Burt said: “The people who receive food are always very grateful and promise to donate themselves once they are back on their feet.”

The 73-year-old, who ran tea rooms in Wallingford for 13 years before she retired, said: “We make deliveries to some people’s home because they don’t have their own transport and it can be heartbreaking when you meet them.

“One single mother with a daughter aged five or six said she had not been able to get her anything for Christmas – it was really sad.

“There are homes in Berinsfield where you open the door and there are no carpets on the floors and makeshift curtains.”

Mrs Burt added the foodbank was well-stocked with baked beans, pasta and tinned soup after a large number of donations came in from harvest festival celebrations in September.

But donations of fruit juice, tinned potatoes, UHT milk and tinned vegetables are still required.

Mrs Burt said: “We do expect the demand to increase in 2016 – the benefits system has changed quite a bit recently and some of the effects of the changes have not yet been fully felt.

“There are about 25 different agencies handing out vouchers for the foodbank to people, including the Citizens Advice Bureau, health visitors and all the churches in Wallingford.”

Mrs Burt said there were still people in the town who were not aware of the existence of the foodbank.

She added: “We want to reach people in need in 2016 and let them know that there is no embarrassment in using the foodbank. Anyone who is interested in volunteering can come and spend the day working with us to see if they like it.”

Mr Burt said people’s financial circumstances dictated whether they would be given a foodbank voucher.

He said: “If someone can show that they won’t be getting their benefit for a fortnight they would be given a voucher.”

The number of people using the service has more than doubled in the past four years. In its first year, from 2011 to 2012, the foodbank helped about 400 people and the figure rose to about 700 in the second year.

The next year it rose to just under 800 and last year increased to just over 800.

For details about volunteering, email nevburt@btinternet.com