RESPONDING to the rising number of people relying on Foodbanks to eat in Barry, an independent councillor has called on all parties to commit to helping people out of poverty.

Councillor Richard Bertin (Court) will be asking the Vale council about the number of people using local Foodbanks for help and requesting an official thank you to be given to volunteers who have helped out.

"It really is sad that in this day and age people have to rely on donations to enable them to eat," Cllr Bertin said. "People must ask why we are in this situation and what can be done to help."

There are currently four Foodbanks in the Vale of Glamorgan, two in Barry, one in Dinas Powys and one in Llantwit Major.

The second Barry Foodbank opened in February 2014 at St Mary's Church due to the high demand at the existing distribution centre at Coastlands Family Church.

Councillor Bertin said: "It should not be in 2015 that people have to rely on food donations to live and all parties must commit at this election to helping people out of this type of poverty.

“I understand the biggest reason for this problem is benefit delay so we need to ask how this can be improved and when."

The Trussell Trust, who run UK Foodbanks have also called on all political parties to work together to prevent and relieve hunger in the UK.

Figures were released last week showing that more than 3,500 people needed emergency food from the Vale of Glamorgan's four foodbanks last year and in the three and a half years since the creation of the Vale's first distribution centre almost 10,500 people have been supported by food donations.