FOOD banks need urgent help to ensure their shelves are stocked with enough supplies to feed those in need MSPs have been told.

A petition to the Scottish Parliament calls on the Scottish Government to use cash from its estimated £145m underspend or raise tax by 1p to collect more than £250m to combat food shortage in food banks.

John Beattie, from Sunny Govan Radio, has been organising collections with colleagues to help the south west food bank which he says needs £1000 a week to feed those referred.

Mr Beattie is appearing before MSPs on the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions committee today with his plea for action.

Mr Beattie said: “We started doing collections in February because the local food bank was asking us to put out emergency appeals.

“It was then I realised how bad the situation was. We would speak to people who were affected, who used food banks and we heard how desperate so many people were.

“One of my concerns is if people are having to be referred to a foodbank and then also worry if there is going to be any food there to collect makes it even worse.”

Although focussed on the south west, greater Govan and Pollok areas, Mr Beattie is aware of a growing crisis across the city.

He said: “I have spoken to people in Drumchapel and Maryhill who tell me it is just as serious there as well. They are desperate for help.

“We have had MSPs donate items personally which is great. We want them also to use their influence on the government to make financial help available.”

The petition states despite repeated appeals and a response for the community the situation is getting worse.

It says: “In our community, Govan in Glasgow, we have now reached the point where the community is struggling to meet the demand of the food banks from our fellow citizens.”

Mr Beattie added: “I would ask people to think about donating to their local food bank wherever they live.”

He said the four south west food banks have fed 4,745 people including 1,485 children.

MSPs on the committee have been provided with a briefing paper from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

It states the Trussell Trust, the biggest but not the only, provider of food banks states the number of people who have been helped in Scotland has rocketed since 2011.

The paper states in 2011, 1692 adults and children were assisted. By 2014 it had increased to 51,647, and the figures are only for visits between April and September.

Alex Neil Scottish Government equalities minister said the Government was providing £1m to help combat food poverty over two years

He said: “We want to help food aid providers support even more people and make sure those using food banks are able to access appropriate advice and support.”