COLCHESTER Food Bank will hand struggling families as much food over the next ten months as it has donated since its formation five years ago.

This month the charity, set up in 2009, handed out its 50th tonne of non-perishable food and vital supplies to a family or resident referred to them by one of 100 organisations.

The Rev Andrew Fordyce, chairman of the food bank’s trustees, said a rise in demand partly linked to recent welfare reforms meant he expected to have donated 50 more tonnes by the close of 2014.

Read the full story in today's Gazette.