LANCASHIRE County Council has joined forces with 35 local food banks to find out more about people who cannot afford to eat healthily.

Food poverty can lead to malnutrition and hospital admissions relating to this have doubled since 2008/9.

The county council wants to find out more about food poverty and how it affects communities.

The county arranged three ‘food bank summits’, one at Nelson’s Ace Centre, so politicians and health experts could meet food bank workers to research health issues affecting their users.

Pendle county councillor Azhar Ali, cabinet member for health, said: “This is a serious problem as too little healthy food, particularly in children, can lead to malnutrition. “It will increase their chances of developing heart disease, strokes and other health problems.

“We need to get a better idea of the situation in Lancashire and food banks are best place to let us know more about those in food poverty and the range of problems they suffer from.”