By Jonathan Sutton - Local Democracy Reporter

A North Staffordshire food bank says it fears that hikes in energy prices could mean the people it helps won't even be able to afford to cook the food it gives to them.

Leek and District Food Bank said demand has been increasing steadily over the last nine years, but there was a huge spike between April and September this year. 

During that time, it saw an 83% increase, and the profile of the people it is having to help has been changing, too. 

Project Manager Lindsay Stockton said the charity is seeing more people who are working but can't afford to make ends meet. And in some cases, businesses are referring their own employees to the service. 

But Mrs Stockton said she was particularly worried about how many people would cope during the winter months. 

She added: "We know (the people coming in) are going to go home to cold houses. We know they are not probably going to be able to cook the food we give them. It is scary. It is frightening. We just don't know how we are going to be able manage"

Mrs Stockton added that another worry was whether donations would diminish as a result of the cost of living crisis. 

Up until this year, it was rare for the food bank to have to buy food to give away. But this year, it is spending around £2000 a month.

But she said that figure was relatively small compared to the amounts some food banks were spending in order to make sure they had stock to give to users. 

She added: "People can't afford to donate, they can't afford to feed themselves, they can't afford to donate to other people." 

She added that "that people feel that they have let their families down through no fault of their own".

Users are usually referred to food banks by a referral agency, of which there are around 50. But now, more people are coming directly. 

When this happens they are given a food voucher, and then they are given advice on other agencies that can help with benefits, debts and utilities.  

"Some of the people we get here are people who never in a million years would you expect to use a food bank," Mrs Stockton said.  

She said she blames not only the cost of living crisis but the "nonsensical bureaucracy associated with systems".

She said: "Take the benefits system: Why when a couple split up does that immediately mean that benefits are stopped and not reconsidered or re-calculated? It creates a gap, and it is that gap that is becoming unmanageable."

The food bank, which is located behind Gateway Church in Leek, also has a cafe, where anybody can come and have a drink. There are hopes that this area could become a warm hub on Tuesdays and Fridays – where people can go to stay warm during cold weather. 

The food bank has 30 volunteers who, Mrs Stockton says, are "amazing and go above and beyond". But she said that "there is going to be a point where we can't solve people's problems". 

She added: "There is not going to be a net big enough to catch everybody. You just feel that there is a tsunami of need waiting to hit us."

The food bank is part of the Trussell Trust network and is open Tuesday and Friday.

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