Horsforth’s foodbank will be up and running in time for Christmas.

The steering group responsible for setting it up intends to open the foodbank on December 17 for the first of three sessions before Christmas.

The initiative is being spearheaded by all ten local churches along with one university chaplaincy.

More than 80 people turned out earlier this year to an open meeting to hear presentations about the need in the area.

The Rev Richard Dimery, chairman of the Horsforth foodbank outlet steering group, said people were having to chose between heating, rent and food, and parents were going hungry in order to feed their children.

Vouchers, which can be redeemed for food, will be issued by statutory bodies including children’s centres, GPs, health visitors, police, social workers and others.

The Horsforth foodbank is part of the Leeds North food bank but it will be co-ordinated locally and staffed with volunteers.

The group is working with the support of the Trussell Trust, which is helping to set up outlets all over the UK.

Leeds Foodbank, made up of north, south, east and west, will give extra help this winter by providing dozens of emergency food boxes to organisations supporting vulnerable families and the elderly.

Children’s centres, schools and elderly care organisations across Leeds will be given boxes containing three days’ food for families and individuals who are in crisis over December and January.

Leeds Foodbank trustee John Casey said: “It is a sad reality that because of the rise in living costs, coupled with wage stagnation, many more people are resorting to foodbanks to see them through a crisis.

“Here in Leeds we are all too aware that the winter period can be particularly harsh for families and older people, which is why we are launching our Emergency Food Box initiative.”