Two churches are planning to set up a food bank for people in the district who are going hungry.

St Mary’s Church in High Road and the Restore Community Church in Chester Road, both in Loughton, will join forces to provide the service from next month.

Heather Dent, a member of St Mary’s who has been volunteering at a food bank in Redbridge for the past year, said: “Our aim is to renew hope for people who have found themselves in need.

“Although you would imagine Epping Forest is a fairly wealthy area, there are some people out there who are in crisis for all sorts of reasons.”

A food bank was set up by the Silkworth Trust in Langston Road, Debden, a year ago, but had to move because the charity could not afford the rent.

Its manager, Steve Mitchell, gave mental health problems and unemployment as two of the main reasons people were visiting.

Miss Dent said: “There are a host of reasons people use food banks – it could be an unexpected bill, redundancy, or benefit delay, for example.”

Epping Forest MP Eleanor Laing argued in Parliament last week that food banks were not a sign the government was failing to look after those most in need.

She said: “We believe, as a matter of principle, that power is with the people and it is up to individuals to help each other, voluntarily, if they so wish, in times of need.

“Food banks are not about entitlement.”

Miss Dent said: “Food banks are coming in to provide support. We're not going to moan about it, we're going to get up and do it.”

She said the exact details of where and when the food bank would be held were being finalised.