LARGS Foodbank has made a desperate plea for donations after a massive surge in demand emptied its shelves.

The local charity has been left pleading for helps as new figures reveal the number of people relying on the service locally has soared by almost 300 per cent since November.

The service, located at Clark Memorial Church, recently put out a desperate cry for help, asking people to donate after their stocks of all supplies reached a record low.

The charity had managed to meet the increased demand at the beginning of the year, but the worrying trend has shown no sign of slowing down - leaving the cupboards bare.

Foodbank volunteer Michael Hynds said: "We have now run very low on most items and we desperately need donations.

"We are looking for coffee, cartons of fruit juice, UHT milk, sugar, jam, biscuits, rice.

"We also require tinned items of potatoes, custard, fruit, sweetcorn, carrots, meats, jars of pasta sauce and curry sauce and cat/dog food.

"We are also almost out of toiletries and household cleaning products."

MP Patricia Gibson recently raised the matter in the House of Commons and blames Universal Credit for her constituents going hungry.

She said: "I continue to be deeply concerned that many people in our communities find themselves forced to rely on foodbanks due to the failures of Universal Credit and in-work poverty which is causing genuine hardship.

"Recent figures show that foodbank usage in Largs has soared since November last year.

"In this day and age that is an absolute disgrace. The Tory Government is apparently blind to the evidence showing the suffering and hardship caused by its welfare reforms.

"It is no accident that the rollout of Universal Credit has coincided with an increase in the use of foodbanks.

"All claimants are expected to be on Universal Credit by 2023, including almost 10,000 more North Ayrshire and Arran households.

"That means this trend of foodbank use looks set to continue with no sign that the UK Government is prepared to pause and fix universal credit, which is not fit for purpose and causes unnecessary hardship.

"I will continue to raise this terrible injustice to ensure that hunger and inequality in our communities is properly addressed.

"I was disappointed that the leader of the house failed to recognise that Universal Credit is driving people to use foodbanks and needs urgent reform to stop people from going hungry."

The Largs Foodbank covers Largs, Fairlie, Skelmorlie and Cumbrae and is open every Thursday from noon until 5pm at the Clark Memorial Church.

Food is given out using a voucher system and vouchers can be obtained from Brooksby Health Centre.

For emergency collection, the emergency phone number is 07482 508875 and can be called before 8pm.

Donations can also be made at Morrisons and the Co-op.