A food bank could be set up to help struggling families in Rishton, Great Harwood and Clayton-le-Moors.

Proposals have been drawn up by Rishton Methodist minister Rev Pat Brown following a visit to the Trussell Trust food bank charity in Blackburn.

Rev Brown said the poorest families in those communities are finding it ‘increasingly hard to survive’ and there is a demand for a new food bank.

Under the plans the food bank would operate as a satellite for the Trussell Trust with a permanent base yet to be decided.

Food banks have already been set up in Accrington and earlier this year in Oswaldtwistle.

Rev Brown said: “I think most people are aware the needs of people are increasing.

“Most churches in our area already collect food and send it to food banks in Accrington and Blackburn but we felt we could do something more ourselves.

“We went to Trussell Trust and found that to be an amazing set-up and were all quite surprised by the number of people who came to get food week by week and a lot come from our own communities.

“If you look at those three communities then probably Rishton has more need than Great Harwood or Clayton-le-Moors and I think that would be recognised.

“Not everybody is willing to be up front about their needs which is why some of them go to Blackburn and the food bank there.” Letters have been sent to all churches, mosques, community leaders and members of community organisations in the three townships calling for support. A meeting has also been arranged at Trinity Church on King Street in Great Harwood on Wednesday, January 29 at 7pm to discuss the project.

The meeting will be chaired by Rev Brown and director of the Blackburn food bank Ros Duerden.

Rev Brown said: “I am hopeful that following this a working group will be set up to carry the Food Bank Project forward.

“Although I have written this invitation and am happy to be a member of the working group, it will be for the group itself to decide how it operates.

“This is intended to be a group which is representative of all our communities and if we all work together we have the best chance of making the food bank happen.”