Increasingly desperate North East families are being forced to use food banks due to mortgage rises.

One food bank worker reported seeing regular users in tears, grateful for the help the vital service supplies.

The cost of living crisis has seen families with two working parents resort to support services.

At the end of June, the Bank of England announced that interest rates would go up from 4.5 per cent tofive per cent.

This increase will make mortgage payments even more expensive with families across the country.

Families are facing, on average, a £200 hike on their monthly mortgage bills.

In Bishop Auckland, the Angel Trust food bank and pantry has seen a rise in the number of families arriving week after week.

Judith Ballan, who has worked there since February, described how in the last few weeks people only had money for the £5 food pantry.

She said: "We are getting a lot of regulars coming on Tuesdays and Fridays.

"They can't believe that they can get a full shop for just £5.

"People come in and thank you. Some start crying.

"We know that people are struggling to pay their energy bills and that was before the mortgage rises.

"We're trying to get more food in that won't need heating up.

"We need any donations that we can, whether that is food or money to help us - anything helps."

A student nurse who wished to remain anonymous described her struggles since the rise.

She said: "It's very difficult at the moment trying to cope with energy bills, mortgage rises and running the car.

"The Angel Trust has been amazing, we started coming three months ago.

"The staff are lovely and they make you feel so welcome."

Data collected by the Trussell Trust shows that there had already been a 54 per cent increase in food bank usage in the North East during 2022/23 compared to the previous year.

Another customer at the Angel Trust who wished to remain anonymous said: "Me and my husband have three children and they cost us a fortune at the moment.

"To come here and get a full shop for just £5 makes such a difference.

"Everything is going up at the moment. 

"The mortgage rises will push even more people to come here.

"The staff are absolutely amazing."

The Northern Echo: The Angel Trust food bank and pantry is open four days a week

Margaret Edgar, a retired school teacher, started volunteering at the Angel Trust to give back to society.

She said: "We get people that are reall really struggling.

"I started just before Christmas. It just feels right to be helping people when the cost of things is going up so much.

"We don't ask too many questions so I don't know how many families are here becasue of the mortgage rises.

"But we have seen an increase in the last few weeks.

"A girl came in the other week. She was a professional, all dressed for work.

"It's just so wrong. We're trying to do our bit to help."

Maura McKeon, a councillor in Durham, described how "the worst is yet to come".

She said: "With these sort of mortgage changes or interest rate changes the real impact won't be felt for another couple of months.

"The first month or so families might have enough savings to cover the payments but it's going to be around August that it becomes really hard.

"During the colder weather when families will need to be paying their energy bills as well that's when it's going to get really hard.

"We are prepared for an increase in users at the community pantry."

The Northern Echo: The Angel Trust community pantry appreciates and donations

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A Trussell Trust report released last week showed that 14 per cent of UK households had experienced food insecurity by mid-2022.

That is roughly 11.3 million people.

One in five of those referred to a food bank are in working households.