Alton Foodbank is marking 10 years of operation - and a decade that has seen a growing demand for its services.

Over the years thousands of people facing hunger have turned to it for help. In the past 12 months alone, the foodbank has received 607 referrals and provided the equivalent of a generous three-day food supply to 1,832 people (969 adults 863 children).

The foodbank was set up in the wake of the financial crisis and the ensuing austerity measures that resulted from government cuts.

Foodbank manager Ian Dane said: "People hoped there would not have been a continued need for it but were realistic. More disturbing is that its usage has gone up every year.

"This might be because there is more demand but also because there is less social stigma - as there should be - about asking for help. Some people may come to us just once or twice and some 10 or 12 times a year."

Alton Foodbank was founded by local churches and community groups working together towards stopping hunger in Alton and surrounding villages.

Based beneath the Town Hall in Market Square, it is run by Alton Christian Care - a charity affiliated to the Trussle Trust which provides support to 300 foodbanks across the UK.

People in crisis are referred to the foodbank by social services, the Job Centre, schools and GPs and are provided with vouchers for three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food.

During the decade that the Alton foodbank has been in existence, more than 120 volunteers have been involved in its operation. To mark its tenth anniversary about 60 of those helpers gathered at Alton Maltings, on November 28, for a celebration tea party.

"Over the years many people have helped and the idea was to thank the volunteers and representatives of organisations and businesses that have supported the foodbank," Mr Dane said. "We had a cake and it was cut by two youngsters, Emma and Ben Dakin (pictured above) who have been cleaning the foodbank and the warehouse for their Duke of Edinburgh Award."

Food donations can be dropped off at Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Newbury Building Society, Leightons Opticians or the foodbank’s drop off bins at the Alton Maltings and Tripple fff brewery in Four Marks.