THE use of just one foodbank has more than doubled in only three years, figures have shown.

More than 5,000 people turned for help to Middlesbrough Foodbank during 2018 – a massive increase from 2,000 just three years ago.

The gloomy figure was revealed as members of Teesside’s business community rallied round to spread some Christmas cheer through charity Teesside Philanthropic Foundation - making £14,000 in donations to local food banks and the Salvation Army’s Christmas Toy Appeal.

A cheque for £1,000 for a fifth successive year was presented to the foodbank by Lisa Preston of Foundation patrons Hunters Estate Agents.

Foodbank project manager Soroush Sadeghzadeh said the donation was much appreciated in the face of growing poverty since 2015.

He said: “It’s amazing and heart-warming to receive support from the Philanthropic Foundation year after year, and fantastic to be supported by so many generous people who give us food and money because we completely rely on donations.

“I’ve been with Middlesbrough Foodbank for over three years, and the need for it has just got bigger and bigger every year."

He said a third of those they helped were children from families in need and people could find themselves in crisis for numerous reasons, from changes to benefit, to low income or relationship breakdown. The money will be used to buy non-perishable food.

Three more foodbanks - in Billingham, Hartlepool and Redcar - also received £1,000 each, with the Middlesbrough foodbank getting an extra £300 from the local branch of Barclays following a fundraiser.

And five Salvation Army centres in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Eston, Guisborough and Hartlepool have had £10,000 in cash, toys and vouchers to distribute to underprivileged families across Teesside split between them by the Foundation.