A record 2.5million parcels were distributed During the pandemic by a charity food bank

The use of food banks rose by a third during the pandemic of food poisoning, the Trussell Trust said, which distributed a record 2.5 million packages across the UK.

The Trussell Trust said its branches would see a 33 per cent increase in parcel volumes between April 2020 and March 2021.

According to the Trussell Trust, more than 980.000 of these went to children, which is almost two bundles a minute.

The total number of packages passed the two million mark for the first time as they warned that low-income families face an 'historic' need.

Emma Revie, chief executive of The Trussell Trust (RNLU), said: "No one should face the indignity of needing emergency food. Yet our network of food banks has given out record numbers of food parcels as more and more people struggle without enough money for the essentials."

She warned that the figures were incomplete as unprecedented numbers of people were benefiting from support from independent food aid providers and local groups, including some that have taken action in the wake of the pandemic.

Labour' s shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds called the figures 'unacceptable in modern Britain', adding:' The Conservatives are expecting families struggling with difficulties to shoulder the brunt of this government 's failure to secure our economy.'