EVESHAM churches are pressing politicians to use the election campaign to address poverty.

Representatives of Evesham Churches and other concerned bodies were present to launch a new report ‘Why Foodbanks in Evesham?’ at Caring Hands in the Vale Christian Centre this week.

The report includes stories of desperate people needing help from churches and other agencies in the Vale.

Reverend David Haslam, Evesham and District Justice and Equality Network convenor, said the rising number of people using foodbanks needs to be addressed by all parties in the run up to the election. He quoted reports from the national churches which said that children were living in fear of visits by bailiffs when their parents could not pay the council tax, which is now charged even to those drawing benefits.

Members of the Network's Foodbanks Forum include representatives from the Church of England, the Methodists, Baptists, Vale Christian Centre, the Trussell Trust, Rooftop Housing and the Citizens Advice Bureau. All are concerned about the increasing number of people in poverty having to be helped, and referred to foodbanks. They note that basic benefits of £72 per week are very little to live on, especially over a long period of time, people are falling into debt. Members cited clients who have only £5 a week for food after they have paid all their other bills.

Meanwhile, Mr Haslam said the rich were growing richer all the time.

"Bankers whose banks are in disgrace are taking home millions a year, and the richest 1,000 people in the UK have increased their total wealth to over £500 billions. This kind of inequality undermines any sense of us being one human family. It must be unacceptable to any Christian - and all right-thinking people, of all faiths and none."