A RAFT of new food banks are being planned for the north of Glasgow to meet demand for the crisis service.

Project leaders said it was hoped to launch four or five banks in areas covering Maryhill, Possilpark, Ruchill and Summerston.

The plans are being headed up by local churches, community councils, a youth forum and various local firms.

The Deacon of Maryhill Parish Church, Jim Hamilton, said he had taken calls from desperate residents unable to put food on the table because they were waiting for loans to come through.

It is understood local police are also involved in a voluntary capacity.

Officers in the area have previously highlighted a rise in shoplifting for grocery items, which has been attributed to increasing food poverty.

Food banks already operate in Govan and Anniesland with another planned for Pollok in the city's South Side.

New figures have shown the number of people being fed by food banks in Scotland has increased by 150% in the space of a year.

The details were gathered by the Trussell Trust, which described the findings as a 'wake up call'. Figures show 659 people were given emergency food parcels in Glagow's south-east during 2012/13.

Mr Hamilton said people using the service would be 'signposted' to other services and benefits to ensure they did not become reliant on the service.

He said: "We are looking into the possibility of starting up a food bank and have been looking at a few models.

"Our hope would be that it would be an independent model. There is a Trussell model for churches.

"We will pilot it once a week, planning eventually to have four or five scattered through Greater Possilpark to Queen's Cross, up to Summeston Acre.

"Once we get started we would hope to signpost people towards other services so that they don't become reliant on the food banks."

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk