A Wiltshire food bank has said more supplies are needed and the Chancellor's autumn statement may mean even fewer donations.

Jeremy Hunt this week announced increases in taxation and cuts in public spending, which project manager for Malmesbury and District Food Bank Richard Gray fears may result in people being less willing to give food away.

He said: “I know from talking to other food bank managers that some have already been buying food in because they are not going to get enough donated.

“In Malmesbury, we’re doing OK today, but following the autumn statement I don’t know. We might find next month is going to be different.

“We serve Malmesbury all the way across to Cricklade. We are seeing increasing number of people coming to the food bank. We are having to take steps to get more food.

“Fortunately, the good people of Malmesbury and Cricklade are coming up with the food we need, but we are very anxious that if more people need our support in the future, then it’s going to become difficult.”

The food bank had received some help. He said: “There’s a Household Support Fund. We have had a couple of tranches of that and we’re expecting to get another one this week. We will be able to distribute that to our clients.”

A recent report from the food bank charity The Trussell Trust said the cost-of-living crisis is driving food banks to breaking point with almost 1.3m emergency parcels given to people in hunger over just six months.

Wiltshire Council Leader Richard Clewer said the council had been working to support food banks. “Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have maintained regular contact with our food banks, to ensure we have a good understanding of their demand and that there is appropriate support in place from the local authority.

“We have issued over £150,000-worth of funding to Wiltshire food banks, since March 2020, through the Government Household Support Fund and via our local area boards.

"Recently all of our food banks were written to with an additional funding support offer as we recognise the challenges they face and the vital role they are playing in Wiltshire’s communities.  

“We have started conversations regarding a food partnership in Wiltshire to try to strengthen the fantastic work that local food banks and community food providers are already undertaking and have been very encouraged by the early interest in developing this network.”