SUPPLIES are running low at the Black Country Food Bank, sparking an appeal for donations to help keep the shelves well stocked.

For the last 10 years, volunteers have been collecting donations from churches, schools and business and distributing a three day emergency food supply to families and individuals in their hour of need.

But due to high demand, the food bank is experiencing shortages of staple items including tinned fruit, biscuits, healthy snacks, long life fruit juice, toothpaste and toilet roll.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin was keen to help so visited the food bank's storehouse in Albion Street, Brierley Hill, yesterday (Wednesday) to donate £100 worth of food.

He paid for his donation using cash from the fund he set up to donate his MPs’ pay rise to good causes across Dudley.

Mr Austin said: “The Black Country Foodbank has been working hard for years to support local people, but demand keeps rising.

“The foodbank’s volunteers are doing brilliant work, but they need donations of food and money to keep helping local families.

“I wanted to help right away, so I’m making a donation from the fund I set up to donate the MPs’ pay rise."

He added: “Black Country people are the most generous in Britain, so I know people will rally round to help the foodbank deal with shortages.”

For more information about what donations are required or where they can be dropped off, visit www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk