I HOPE you had a good Christmas.

I had a lovely Christmas surrounded by my family and grandchildren. But there are many who were not able to have such a good time.

I am referring to the 60,000 people who were fed by the Trussell Trust's 400 food banks across the country.

The Trussell Trust now opens new food banks in Britain every week to cope with the increase in referrals.

People cannot simply turn up to a food bank and ask for help, they need to be identified as being in need by a healthcare professional or social services or similar, and referred with a form or a voucher.

The Crediton Food Bank was set up by "Christians Together in Crediton" and is based at the Congregational Church.

They do a fantastic job and I would like to pay tribute to them. They deserve our support.

Before Christmas, Mid Devon Labour Party donated £75 to The Crediton Food Bank.

However, we should not need food banks. They are an indication of failure.

We are one of the richest countries in the world and yet we cannot even ensure that our poorest and most vulnerable have sufficient funds to feed themselves.

A decade ago, food banks were almost unheard of in the UK.

The present government has refused to publish the report that they commissioned on the rise in food bank use. I wonder why?

In addition our government has refused £22m from the EU special fund (initiated by Labour MEPs) for food banks. I wonder why?

I believe the growth in food banks is linked to the benefit cuts to the poorest in our society.

Whilst the super rich have been given tax cuts and employ tax experts to squirrel their money away in tax havens, the poor in our society struggle to make ends meet.

I wish you all a happy New Year.

Charlie Werner

Peppercorn House

Sandford