A foodbank serving people in the Braintree district has fed more than 7,500 people in three years.

Churches, individuals, supermarkets, local charity groups, schools and businesses have all donated to the Braintree Area Foodbank since it was started in April 2012.

Volunteer publicity officer Sarah Maddox said: “It is a privilege to be able to help local people in need thanks to local people giving.

“We could not do this without our partner agencies who refer people to us and our committed volunteers- numbering about 250- who continue to give their time to help run the distribution centres and pack food at our warehouse.

“We are also blessed to have an experienced individual who applies for grants to help our charity.”

The charity was recently awarded £7,500 from Braintree Council’s Mi Community fund to help pay for new office space and equipment.

Miss Maddox said that in the last year alone over 30 tonnes of food has helped to feed those who would otherwise have gone hungry.

The Braintree area has not seen any dramatic rises in food poverty and numbers have stabilised in the last year, with 2,887 people receiving food, 1,031 of which were children.

In total, 35% of those using the foodbank since it started have been children.

Miss Maddox said the areas of greatest need were Braintree Central and East Ward, Halstead Trinity Ward, Bocking South Ward and Witham South Ward.