Over 32,000 turned to a food bank for the first time between March and April this year (Picture: PA Wire)

More people than ever are relying on food banks – with even milk now seen as a luxury by families struggling in the cost of living crisis, new figures show.

Almost 1.3million emergency parcels were given out in just six months to September – up by a third in a year – with 500,000 going to children.

In the same period, 320,000 turned to a food bank for the first time, reports the Trussell Trust. Demand for packages outstripped the supply of donations for the first time, it revealed – while one in five people referred to it is now from a working household.

Chief executive Emma Revie urged prime minister Rishi Sunak to ‘act decisively’ to help the poorest in next week’s budget. ‘These new statistics show that, even in summer, people struggled to afford essentials and we are expecting this winter will be the hardest yet for food banks and the people they support,’ she said. ‘This is not right.

‘We urge the UK government to realise their commitment of supporting people on the lowest income with a broad package of support. As well as ensuring benefits rise with inflation as soon as possible, this must go further to close the gap between price rises and incomes over the winter.’

Josie Barlow, manager at Bradford Foodbank, said: ‘Someone who came in recently told me “buying milk is a luxury now”. So many people are struggling with bills and food prices.

The Trussell Trust’s chief executive has called on Rishi Sunak to consider those living on the breadline in next week’s budget (Picture: PA Wire)

‘We are fortunate to be able to help people and we work hard to support them in both the short and long term, but we are also facing challenges.

‘We have seen a huge increase in people coming to the food bank in the last two months and stock levels are very low for this time of the year.’

A government spokesman said: ‘We are directly supporting households in need following aftershocks from the pandemic and Putin’s illegal war.’

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Aid included ‘another cost of living payment this month worth £324 to over 8million people, part of a £1,200 package for those on the lowest incomes’. He added: ‘Our extensive immediate support for families also includes our energy price guarantee, saving £700 for a typical household over winter, and our household support fund, worth over £1billion to help people with essential costs.’

The Trussell Trust, which operates more than half of Britain’s 2,600 food bank, gave out 2,814 parcels when it began in 2006 – in the year to April 2022, the figure hit 2.1million. Parcels are usually for three or seven days.

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Almost 1.3million emergency parcels were given out in just six months.