Dartmouth's newly launched foodbank is already helping up to a dozen desperate people, the group's acting chairman, town councillor David Gent has revealed.

Individuals and families in need of food are being referred to the foodbank operation which works out of the Townstal Community Hall on Wednesdays between noon and 2pm.

'We are now in our second week of operations and already we are tackling the problems of a significant number of people who have been referred to us from all over the place,' said Cllr Gent.

'They are a mixture of people – everything from a single mum to a couple in their 70s.'

He said that many of the people being helped by the foodbank are those who have fallen through the social care net – people who have never been in touch with organisations such as Dartmouth Caring.

'We are finding we are able to refer them to other organisations that can help them in other ways,' said Cllr Gent.

'And with the benefit cuts coming in next month there are likely to be even more people falling through the net,' he added.

The Dartmouth Foodbank, set up to help hungry and vulnerable families feed themselves, was launched with the backing of various church and town charities The group is holding a public meeting at St Clement's Church at 2pm next Thursday to set up a management committee and adopt a constitution.

'Everyone is welcome to attend,' said Cllr Gent.

He added that already kind-hearted people from the Dartmouth area were supporting the new organisation with donations of food.

'At the moment we could probably fit out a small shop. We are doing quite well which is not to say we don't want more. It is mainly coming through private donations.'

He said the group was also now accepting pet food as donations.

'We have met a number of people whose pets are as hungry as them and they are feeding their pets instead of themselves,' Cllr Gent explained.

Sainsbury's has backed the cause by setting up a collection point in its town store for donations.