PEOPLE can study fluctuations in the stock market as much as they like, but the number of people relying on foodbanks to eat gives a more stark reflection of the times in this country.

The foodbank in Malmesbury has seen the number of people needing emergency food supplies triple in the past year.

For an area considered to be affluent, it’s startling to realise how many people are barely scraping by.

A family relying on food vouchers could be left in serious difficulty if a boiler broke or a heavy, unexpected bill landed on their doorstep.

They rely on the stability the foodbank provides in their life and the volunteers that help out there deserve every bit of credit.

They are truly unsung heroes, spending their spare time making sure people don’t go hungry.

Of course, we would all rather there be no need for their selflessness, but increasingly it seems there is more demand for such charity, as more people fall through the cracks of a crumbling benefits system.