Foodbank Use Grows

Nearly one million people have been forced to turn to foodbanks for help.

The Trussell Trust has revealed that the number of people requesting help has increased five-fold in Scotland from approximately 14, 000 in 2013 to around 71, 000 one year later.

We revealed last year that foodbank use in Fife has risen almost twice as much as the rest of Scotland.

The Trussell Trust says its bases in Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Leven and Cupar helped 4,314 people in the six months from April to September.

That's up 246%, while the average for Scotland is 124%.

Child poverty rates are also some of the highest in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and it's an issue that's featuring heavily in the local general election campaign.

Liberal Democrat candidate Callum Leslie believes putting money in people's pockets will help to reduce a reliance on foodbanks:

The Conservatives say they're providing emergency financial help to those in need and are tackling poverty by getting people into work. Dave Dempsey is the Scottish Conservatives candidate:

Scottish Labour has unveiled a plan to end the need for foodbanks by establishing a £175 million anti-poverty fund. We asked Labour candidate Kenny Selbie how he would tackle the issue at a local level:

SNP candidate Roger Mullin believes the problem is down to austerity cuts by the Tory-Lib Dem government something he wants to end: