A food bank is calling on supermarket shoppers to donate much-needed supplies when doing their food shop.

Whitehawk Foodbank has started collecting at Asda at Brighton Marina, allowing shoppers to buy food before donating it in-store at collection points.

It comes as The Argus reported last week a 40 per cent year-on-year increase in people using Whitehawk Foodbank.

Doug Curties, foodbank manager, said: “We started three years ago and every year we’ve got busier and busier.

“We have seen more clients and people are really struggling, particularly with benefits and Universal Credit as it is being rolled out in Brighton.

“So opportunities like this as we’re getting busier will actually help us provide the food people need to help them through their crisis.”

Shoppers are being encouraged to donate food, including urgently needed products like mayonnaise, carbonara sauces, tinned vegetables, tinned chilli con carne and tinned pies.

Asda is also doing its part to support families in crisis. Nationally Asda is donating £20 million to The Trussel Trust network, which Whitehawk Foodbank is a part of, and food poverty charity Fare Share.

The supermarket’s community champion Anton Binder also volunteers at the food bank in Whitehawk every Wednesday.

He said: “The food bank does a marvellous job and what makes you feel really good is seeing people go away with food. Some people come a little bit embarrassed, but the team goes out of its way to make them feel comfortable and and make sure they don’t go hungry.”

Asda Brighton Marina general manager Darren Evans said: “We are really passionate about the food banks this year with the Fight Hunger campaign.

“When I came to the store I was surprised we did not do anything with local food banks and that is why we have introduced it now, and together with Whitehawk Foodbank hopefully we do more to support people in crisis.”

According to figures from the Trussel Trust, 1,328 people were fed by its three-day emergency food supplies from April 1 2017 to March 31 2018.

Of that number, 414 were children. Whitehawk Foodbank is run by volunteers in St Cuthman’s Church in Whitehawk Way. People in crisis are referred to it by the council and other organisations. It also offers financial advice to help people get a hold of their problems.

For a full list of supermarkets in the city which have donation points for Whitehawk Foodbank visit thewhitehawk.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/