More than 1000 children in North Norfolk rely on food handouts to survive, new figures have revealed.

Eastern Daily Press: Labour candidate Stephen Burke. Picture: Ally McGilvrayLabour candidate Stephen Burke. Picture: Ally McGilvray (Image: Archant)

Cromer & District Foodbank received a total of almost 3000 requests for emergency food aid in the last year.

North Norfolk Labour Party blamed the startling figures on Conservative welfare cuts.

These include cuts in child tax credit, a 30% reduction in employment support allowance for disabled or sick people, the benefit cap, and an end to housing benefit for 18 to 24-year-olds.

And they warned that the number is only going to rise.

Stephen Burke, Labour's candidate for North Norfolk in June 8's General Election, said: 'It's a disgrace in 21st century Britain that so many people rely on foodbanks for basic help to eat.

'Low pay in North Norfolk plus the Tory government's national cuts in welfare support are causing hunger, destitution and homelessness. There are huge knock-ons in terms of people's mental health and other illness creating more pressures on the NHS. This is a human tragedy unfolding right under our eyes in North Norfolk.

'We are one of the richest countries in the world but clearly we are not all sharing that wealth. Labour will make work pay with a minimum wage of £10 an hour and reverse the Tories' cuts in welfare and public services.'

Local residents have to be referred to a foodbank by a teacher, doctor, social worker, citizen's advice or the job centre and prove real need before they can receive assistance.

Conservative candidate James Wild said: 'We want to live in a country where people don't need to use foodbanks, that's why we're taking the most poorly paid people out of tax so that they don't have to do that. There's a variety of reasons why people do. Personally I'd like to see fewer people using foodbanks in Norfolk and getting the support they need.'