CHANGES to the welfare system have accounted for a 200 per cent increase in the use of foodbanks, according to the charity that runs Blackburn and Clitheroe Foodbanks.

The Trussell Trust said that since the welfare reforms began in April to June this year, 152,154 people had received emergency food from their foodbanks across the county, three times more than the 49,596 referred during the same period last year.

However, Chancellor George Osborne this week spoke out to say he did not accept the rise was due to welfare changes.

He said: "I think one of the reasons there might be more people using them is because more people are aware of them."

Managers and users of food banks services in east Lancashire said they believed that welfare reforms were a major reason why people were turning to foodbanks. Ros Duerden, project manager at Blackburn Foodbank, said: “I think that Mr Osborne is being far too simplistic. This makes him look out of touch with what is happening to lots of ordinary people. He’s always had food on the table and that is a huge privilege for people we see everyday.”

Welfare changes meant that Gareth Price, from Accrington, had to re-apply for benefits in May.

When his payment was delayed, Community Solutions Foodbank gave him a food parcel.

He said: “I even asked for a crisis loan but was told they don’t do them anymore.

“The welfare changes have just been a bit of a mess but it’s not the only problem. They need to create jobs. You look around and it’s not like there’s nothing to be done. There’s bins that need emptying, pot holes that need filling. They just won’t pay anyone to do it.”

Demi-Lea Adam, from Burnley, found herself needing the help of Community Solutions Foodbank after her partner left her and their daughter unexpectedly.

“He took everything I had with him.

“I had to re-apply for income support benefits after he’d gone because I was now a single person. It took weeks for the money to come through and I don’t know where I’d have been during that time if it wasn’t for the help of Community Solutions.”

Caroline Collins, a spokesperson from Rossendale’s Raft Foundation which also provides food packages , said: “Benefits can be delayed, they can be stopped for up to three months or they can take up to six weeks to process.”

“The majority of our referrals are down to these problems. I would like to invite Mr Osborne to meet with us at Raft. We could go through the facts and figures together and he can see for himself.”