The Trussell Trust charity's network of food banks in Bucks gave out a total of 20,936 emergency food parcels in 2020/21, compared to 8,455 in 2019/20 – an increase of more than 147 per cent.

Bucks came in at number one of the top five local authorities in the south east giving out emergency food parcels, with just over a third of the 20,936 packages (7,563 or 36 per cent) going to children and 13,374 (63.8 per cent) parcels given to adults in 2020/21 - meaning 145 parcels were handed to youngsters and 257 were given to adults every week.

The figures for the whole of the previous year (2019/20) were 3,090 and 5,365 respectively.

An emergency food parcel is typically a three-day package containing emergency food for one person.

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The Trussell Trust said during the coronavirus crisis, food banks have also been distributing seven-day parcels.

For the figures, the trust combined both three-day and seven-day parcels together to report the total number of emergency food parcels that were distributed across its network of food banks between April 2019 - March 2020 and then April 2020 - March 2021.

Kate Brewster, a trustee at One Can Trust, based in High Wycombe, told the Bucks Free Press the figures were “incredibly concerning but not surprising”.

She said: “Demand is well over double and often triple what it was before the pandemic hit, when we were supporting around 200 local people a week - this number is now regularly around the 600 mark.

“Given that the Trussell Trust numbers don't include our statistics, or those of other independent food banks, the reality on the ground is even more alarming.”

“We are deeply worried that with ongoing redundancies and the furlough scheme due to end in September, the situation could get worse.

“We would urge anyone in need to reach out to us, and would like to thank our generous community and volunteers for enabling us to offer much needed support, hope and relief to vulnerable individuals and families during these difficult times.”

The Trussell Trust is calling on candidates standing in the upcoming local elections in England in May to commit to working to “end the need for food banks once and for all”.

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Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “Worryingly, these figures are just the tip of the iceberg with unprecedented numbers of people being helped by other food aid providers and community-based groups that sprang up to provide emergency food during the pandemic.

“No one should face the indignity of needing emergency food. Yet our network of food banks across the South East have continued to provide huge numbers of emergency food parcels as more and more people struggle without enough money for the essentials.

“This is not right but we know we can build a better future. This pandemic has shown the unexpected can hit suddenly, but we know when we push for change, united by our desire for justice and compassion, the government has to listen and act.”