A NEW food bank was launched in Glasgow's South Side to help hard-up residents.

Councillor David McDonald has worked with community leaders to make emergency food supplies available in his constituency area of Pollok.

The new food bank was launched at Ibrox Parish Church and will serve residents in the South West of the city.

Part of the Trussell Trust network, the food bank will operate from Ibrox Parish Church, Hillington Park Church in Cardonald and St Christopher's Church in Pollok.

Social deprivation, high levels of unemployment and poor housing are serious problems in areas such as Nitshill, Priesthill, Arden and Corkerhill.

Councillor McDonald, who represents Greater Pollok, said: "No one is happy to be supporting the development of a food bank, but I am happy to be supporting the efforts of my community to support those most in need.

"People across the South West are living under sustained financial pressures.

"From benefit cuts for the disabled, to the rising in the cost of living for working families: finical pressure is affecting everyone.

"People are paying he price for the failure of the bankers and the politicians.

"But now thanks to our volunteers people will have a local resource that they can rely on that will provide them, not just food but support and hope."

The Evening Times reported last year that people in the north of the city were stealing food from shops because they were in desperate need and were being referred to food banks by police.

Reverend Elisabeth Spence, convener of the steering group of Glasgow South West Food bank, said: "The reality is that foodbanks are needed. And therefore we need to do all we can to support people in dire need."

rebecca.gray@eveningtimes.co.uk