A baby bank founder has been "overwhelmed" by the public response following a heartbreaking plea to help a mum feed her toddler.

Bernadette Murphy, of Lanarkshire Baby Bank, posted a video online on Saturday detailing the plight of a desperate mother who faces four months of benefits sanctions, leaving her with no food or nappies for her two-year-old.

But following the Evening Times' coverage of the Coatbridge resident's urgent need, generous readers flooded the group with donations and offers of support.

Now Bernadette has been able to provide the 26-year-old mum not just with food, but a supply of nappies, toiletries and a year's supply of clothing for her infant.

The 55-year-old said: "Within an hour of it going online, I had over 200 people asking if they could help.

"We've had such an amazing response after people saw it, we've really been able to look after her.

"When we spoke she was so grateful, a big difference to when we spoke earlier and she was in tears in the Citizens Advice office."

Glasgow Times:

Some of the donations received

In the past seven months Bernadette says she has helped more than 1100 families, including 56 refugee families, without any support from the government.

The Motherwell resident added: "If there was an Oscar for begging, I'd win it believe me, we depend entirely on the generosity of the public.

"People from all across Scotland are using the service, there is such a demand for it.

"Something is wrong when a girl and baby find themselves in this situation, and it is by no means a one-off, the government are burying their head in the sand."

In total, kind-hearted donors gave between two and three hundred items, with everything from cereal and tinned food, to baby wipes and toys being handed in.

The story clearly touched hearts on the Evening Times Facebook page, with many readers expressing their horror at mum and child being left in such straits and pledging to contact the baby bank.

Jill Iona Lynn wrote: "My God this is awful. A two-year-old boy starving because his mother's benefits were cut. This is not on."

Donna Edgely wrote: "I find that in 2016 it's heartbreaking that we have this situation let alone children living in poverty."

If you would like to support the Lanarkshire Baby Bank, call 07833497755.

They are running a Christmas 'handbag appeal' in the run-up to the Christmas season asking people to donate handbags filled with toiletries for mums unable to afford them.