Anti-poverty activists are urging people to help them tackle the problem in Inverclyde.

The Tele recently revealed a 126 per cent surge in people being referred to the foodbank, as welfare reforms cause a whole host of problems.

Alice Paul, a senior development officer with community care forum Your Voice, says there is a growing consensus that urgent action is required.

Alice and other community figures now want to establish a Poverty Action Group to help local people who are struggling to get by.

Alice said: "There has been the rise of foodbanks, community freezers and the Inverclyde Homeless Forum, which does a lot of good work.

"Ten years ago we weren't feeding people.

"There's something not quite right.

"We found that a few people were interested as a group in how to challenge and address poverty.

"What came out of our conversations was looking at what we could do for ourselves to change the position we're in."

Stewart Boyle, chair of Inverclyde Recovery Cafe - which offers support to people in recovery from addiction and with mental health problems - says the controversial universal credit system has a big part to play in the issues local people are facing.

Stewart said: "Poverty affects people at different stages in their lives.

"People are surviving on less and less money every week and prices are going up."

Almost a third of local children, 27.9 per cent, are classed as living in poverty in Inverclyde.

Overall deprivation sits at 44 per cent and financial problems are at the forefront of many people's minds.

The group are urging volunteers to come on board to help them set up the Inverclyde Poverty Action Group.

Anyone who would like to get involved should pop along to Your Voice in Clyde Square on Monday November 26 at 1pm.

For more information call Ashley Brown on 728628.

Pictured is Ashley Brown, Alice Paul, Stephen McLean and Stewart Boyle.