A NORTH Cotswold charity who helps families struggling to afford food says that the recent school holidays have been a particularly busy time for them.

North Cotswold Foodbank said that there is a huge financial impact on a family having to feed children who are at home for six weeks - adding that staff there regularly come across parents who will go without food all day in order to feed their children

Between July 20 and September 12 the charity gave out 48 food parcels, providing food for 90 adults and 126 children.

Over a third of all food distributed by the foodbank network throughout the year goes to children, but there is extra financial pressure to provide main meals during the school holidays for families who rely on free school meals during term time.

A recent newsletter also said that the charity expects to be busy in the first couple of weeks after the children return to school as parents have to spend money on school uniforms which pushes them into debt.

To find out more about the work that the charity does visit bit.ly/2OBsiiw