FOODBANK usage in Inverclyde has soared by a staggering 162 per cent in just 24 months.

According to new figures from The Trussell Trust, Britain's biggest foodbank charity, there has been a massive spike in the number of people going to the local branch in West Blackhall Street, Greenock to feed themselves and their families.

The organisation blames the surge on the ongoing roll-out of the UK Government's controversial universal credit (UC) system, which merges a number of individual benefits into one payout.

In the year to April, some 6,400 adults and children sought help from the Greenock-based foodbank, up by almost 80 per cent.

Latest research by the trust has revealed that there has been an even greater increase in people receiving supplies from the local branch.

Usage has soared by 162 per cent in the last two years.

Inverclyde Council SNP group leader, Chris McEleny, also blames the surge on UC, which he has branded a 'disaster'.

Councillor McEleny said: "Universal credit has services locally at breaking point. "If it wasn't for the work of the local foodbank and those that support it, the thousands of emergency food parcels that have been issued in the past year wouldn't have been issued. "Simply put this means that people across Inverclyde and children would be going to bed hungry at night. "Around a third of those that have needed support is due to the shambles involving the roll out of universal credit.

"The roll-out of universal credit should be halted until fundamental flaws have been fixed, particularly the payment delay. "I also strongly oppose the cap that restricts child tax credits to the first two children, the inhumane rape clause, and the benefits cap. "Ultimately when the dust settles it will be left to the council to pick up the pieces from this disaster and give people the support they need."

Last week, it was revealed that the rollout of universal credit locally has cost the council over £2m due to a huge rise in crisis grants, housing support and the number of staff needed to assist those affected by it.

Inverclyde was one of the first places in the UK where UC was introduced in late 2016.

There are now 5,700 claimants locally, with that figure set to rise as more people are moved over.

Across the UK, The Trussell Trust said more than 650,000 food parcels were handed out in the past six months - a year-on-year increase of 13 per cent.