THE mayor of West Devon and the leader of the local parish council joined the coordinators of the Bere Peninsula Food Bank to place in position the A-frame to mark the official opening of the scheme.

West Devon mayor Cllr Robin Musgrave thanked the chairman of the Bere Peninsula foodbank, Graham Boot-Handford, and all those responsible for the initiative for providing the facility in difficult economic times.

Vouchers have already been processed for local people to use the facility, based at the Hope Cottage Café. It will be holding sessions each Tuesday between 10am and noon.

The ceremony was attended by members of the foodbank's volunteer team and the referrers who are responsible for issuing the vouchers.

Tony Allan, the secretary of the foodbank, told the Times: 'Foodbank stocks are sustained through local donations of food and cash and provide short-term help of supplies that help families in emergency situations.

'An example of the aid distributed for a small family was on display and the mayor commended all those involved in the initiative, which has been spearheaded by the local coordinators, Christine and Graham Fine.'

Vouchers are issued through agencies such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Tavistock Childcare Centre, WDBC Housing, Young Devon Youth Enquiry Service as well as local midwives and nurses.