HUNGRY Bradford families are being pushed "over the abyss" by cruel Government policies, a damning report by a group of MPs warns today.

A landmark investigation - backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury - condemns the explosion in food bank use in the city and elsewhere and demands radical change.

In just six months this year, Bradford Central Foodbank, in Jermyn Street, delivered a staggering 21,996 emergency meals.

And the number of people receiving a three-day aid package has grown to 2,444 between April and September this year, compared with 748 in the same period in 2012.

Bradford Metropolitan Foodbank reported a 450 per cent increase in demand between 2011 and 2013. It currently hands out 800 food parcels a month and gave out 1,000 in August.

Food coordinator Ken Leach said: "The benefits system has changed over recent years, and that has been one of the reasons behind the increase.

"We're giving out more than 10,000 parcels a year now, and there is always a need for more donations."

Frances Atkins, assistant food coordinator, said demand had risen ten-fold since she started volunteering for the charity around three years ago.

"We are seeing an increase in the number of families using our services, as opposed to single people, which is a very worrying trend, especially as we head into winter.

"Supermarkets are very important, as there is food thrown away that is perfectly edible.

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Bradford families being pushed "over the abyss" by cruel Government policies, a damning report exploring foodbank ...