KEIGHLEY Salvation Army is bucking a national trend which has seen foodbank usage soar.

The High Street church last year distributed 1,319 food parcels – down from 1,480 in 2015, a drop of about 11 per cent.

But church leaders stress that despite the fall, demand for its provision is still high.

And there is a desperate requirement for foodstuffs to help those in need.

Ben Cotterill, corps officer at Keighley Salvation Army, said: "We've noticed the reduction in the amount of food parcels over the past year.

"The agencies in the town are continuing to work together to respond to the people food crisis.

"Alongside the foodbank, we have a Citizens Advice Bureau worker and volunteer from Christians Against Poverty who help people access support with debt.

"Also, we continue to signpost people to other agencies for specialist support as well as receiving referrals from over 30 agencies in the town."

He added: "Our foodbank stock levels are currently extremely low, as they always are at this time of year.

"If people wanted to contribute, then tinned or dried foods such as cereal, tea, meats, tuna, rice, pasta sauce, rice pudding, chopped tomatoes, tinned fruit, custard and microwave meals are very welcome."

Latest figures from anti-poverty charity, The Trussell Trust, show a rise in demand on its national foodbank network.

In the 12 months up to March this year, it provided 1,182,954 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis, compared to 1,109,309 in 2015-16.

A report by the charity highlights that although the rollout of the new Universal Credit system for administering benefits has been piecemeal so far, foodbanks in areas of partial or full rollout are reporting significant problems with its impact.

It says that in areas of full Universal Credit rollout to single people, couples and families, its foodbanks have seen a 16.85 per cent average increase in referrals for emergency supplies – more than double the national average of 6.64 per cent.

The report adds that the effect of a six-week-plus waiting period for a first Universal Credit payment can be serious, leading to foodbank referrals, debt, mental health issues, rent arrears and eviction.

Effects can last even after people receive their Universal Credit payments, as bills and debts pile up.

David McAuley, for the Trussell Trust, said: "The move to simplify an often complex welfare system is a welcome one but any large reform can have unforeseen consequences.

"Foodbanks see first-hand how changes to the welfare system affect people on the ground and so can offer an early warning to decision-makers.

"We are sharing our early observations with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure any adverse side effects Universal Credit can have on people are addressed before full rollout is completed.

"We have been heartened by the Secretary of State's willingness to engage, his department's work to pilot improvements and recent changes to the Universal Credit taper rate, which mean people moving into work will keep more of their earnings."

Inn Churches, which runs projects across the area to help people in need, estimates that around 30,000 children a day are going hungry in Bradford district.

Its Storehouse initiative, which redistributes surplus and unwanted food to the needy, is seeing a month-on-month increase in demand.

Chief executive, Juli Thompson, said: "The key issues seem to be a need for affordable food for families and providing schoolchildren with food during the holidays to make up for a loss of school meals."