CALLINGTON is set to launch its own foodbank next month, in response to a growing number of people in the town living on the poverty line.

Churches Together in Callington has instigated the project after it learnt that 25% of the provision from Liskeard and Looe foodbanks was being delivered to Callington each week.

The facility, to be based in a warehouse next to the Mustard Seed Church, will also be available to residents from the catchment area including Gunnislake and Calstock.

The intention is also to create a drop-in centre so people can come in and have a cup of tea and a chat and be signposted to different services where they can get more permanent help.

Pastor of the Mustard Seed David Jewell said the first collection of food items would be at the Co-op supermarket on October 1, and then at Tesco on October 22. Shoppers will be asked to buy an extra item to donate to the food bank.

Vouchers for food parcels will be issued by agencies like Social Services, doctors and midwives, the children's centre and others who are in contact with people who may need this emergency service.

Pastor Jewell said: 'The major reason we have done this is because 100 kilos of food a week is being delivered to Callington from foodbanks in Liskeard and Looe and there is a ward in Callington which is particularly poor.

'There are 108 foodbanks in England now so there is a growing need for this kind of thing.

'It is going to get worse before it gets better. I hope it will make a big difference to the people of Callington.'

Vicar of Callington Peter Sharpe said it was no surprise to him that Callington needed this facility — but often people living on the poverty line kept their needs hidden.

'East Cornwall is one of the most deprived areas of the country, it is a very low wage area and there is not a great deal of employment,' he said.

'There is also a reasonable proportion of transient residents in Callington with their own particular needs.'

He said he hoped that many contacts would be made with all sorts of emergency organisations in the area through the foodbank scheme.