AN INVERCLYDE church's food bank is appealing for festive donations in the run up to a difficult time of year for many local families.

Church Angels, based in Port Glasgow, has been running for more than 10 years and organisers say the need in the community is a great as ever.

The group offers help to people without referrals from agencies and say three quarters of people they help are families.

Volunteer Margaret Wilson, said: "We hand out 36 bags of food on each day we open and the queue usually starts half an hour before, we open.

"We rely on donations and the public are very generous. Without them we wouldn't be here.

"We are helping families more than single people. About three quarters of the people we see have young families.

"We try to give them crisps and sweets if we are donated them."

Reverend Susan Henderson, minister of Port Glasgow and Greenock East United Reformed Churches, said they see people from all walks of life.

She said: "There are some people we see every week or some people fortnightly.

"Sadly the need is not going to change. We would love to not have to be here but I don't think that is likely to happen.

"I don't know what the solution is. It's not just people on benefits, it's people from all walks of life.

"The winter fuel payment has been taken away from pensioners. All the time when governments change policies it has a knock on effect.

"Some people may not be entitled to benefits but are still on a low income."

Margaret says they are very grateful for people's generosity and there are also churches who give donations every week.

She said: "We have five individuals who donate every month and churches Port Glasgow New Parish Church, St Francis and Holy Family and Port Glasgow and Greenock East Reformed Church, and their church in Giffnock, St Colm's and St Fillan's in Kilmacolm.

"Sometimes if I am Tesco and people find out I am shopping for the food bank, people just come up to me with money, and the community champion always helps us out."

Susan is appealing for people to think of others at Christmas and donate extra special treats

She said: "We are looking for little extra treats to make Christmas special, if anyone thinks 'I would like that at Christmas, I will donate that'."

Donations will be gratefully received at Port Glasgow United Reformed Church on Tuesday and Thursdays between 10am and noon.

The food bank will be open on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay.