Record emergency food parcels handed out last year.

1.6 million emergency food parcels (containing a minimum of three days worth of nutritional food) were given out in 2018 by the Trussell Trust.

A staggering amount - over 500,000 - were handed to children.

The Trussell Trust is an NGO and charity which coordinates a network of food banks across the UK.

Poverty levels, delays of universal credit and benefit cuts were among the main factors for the figures.

However, according to the Trussell Trust, this is not a new development. Data, collected over the last five years, shows that there has been a 73% increase in emergency food supplies to cover demands.

The UK charity suggests that the current social security system is failing and that changes to the UK benefit system and the universal credit system need to be made.