A NEW foodbank will open in Flixton this Friday, amid a worryingly increasing number of referrals at existing centres.

The opening of this new service comes in response to requests for the Stretford Foodbank to widen its services to the Urmston, Davyhulme and Flixton area.

The existing Stretford food distribution centre which has been in operation for over a year will continue its services as usual.

The organisation was formed of volunteers from a number of churches of different denominations in the area coming together -- St. Matthew's C of E church, St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church and the Salvation Army.

Jim Peloe from the Steering Group of Stretford Foodbank said:

“This is another example of local Christian Churches coming together to respond to a need within their community.

“In order to be eligible, recipients have to be in possession of a voucher from front-line agents such as doctors. The voucher entitles them to 3 days of nutritionally-balanced food.

"This move has shown that there is a need, unfortunately, at this time."

Trussell Trust figures show that two new food banks are launched every week in the UK.

The largest percentage of primary referral causes in the financial year 2013-14 were listed as being 'benefits delays', 'low income' and 'benefit changes'.

The north west has been singled out as having far and away the largest number of referrals in the country, with 138,644 people in the region having visited the centres in the past year alone. This number includes 51,083 children.

All food provided at the centre is donated, whether by schools, churches, businesses, individuals, or through supermarket collections.

The new Flixton service will be based at The Croft, Church Road, between The Inn and The Village public houses. The centre will open each Friday between 11am and 2pm.

The existing Streford service is at Trafford Christian Life Centre, Barton Road on Tuesdays between 11am and 2pm.

For information about services, volunteering or making a donation please visit stretford.foodbank.org.uk