Desperate single dads form long queue outside food bank so they can feed their kids

Desperate single dads formed a long queue outside a food bank so they could feed their kids during the lockdown.

Shocking footage shows the men inside Elephant and Castle shopping centre in a long line leading up to the office of the Dad's House food bank in south east London.

The queue stretches from the outside of the building all the way along the corridor of the huge shopping complex up to the organisation's office.

The video was shot by the organisation's founder Billy McGranaghan.

He can be heard saying: "Its Friday morning and again, the queue for the food bank is just absolutely incredible.

"I'm just going up to our office and if you'd never actually seen this with your own eyes, you would never believe it."

Mr McGranaghan set up Dad's House in 2008 to help single dads raising kids on their own.

The news comes as food banks in the UK are seeing demand soar by up to 325% during lockdown.

The average increase in the demand for food bank support has been over 210% with some parts of London seeing a 270% rise in households needing their help.

The latest figures have been shared by Investec, who are supporting food banks in 15 cities.

These include some of the hardest hit including Bristol, Bournemouth, London and Sheffield.

The Trussell Trust, who are working with Investec, say that at least half of those affected are children.

The data also showed that 67% are now dependent as a result of coronavirus, or underlying health and disability issues.

Meanwhile, 15% had lost their job and were waiting for Universal Credit claims, 10% are facing eviction, and 20% are over the age of 70.

Melanie Rochford from the Trussell Trust said: "In times of crisis, more people than ever need help from food banks.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has placed significant demand on our already overstretched resources to support individuals and families living below the poverty line."

The UK's economy is set for its deepest downturn "in living memory", according to a survey released earlier this month.

The IHS Markit/CIPS study found the UK's services sector contracted at a record pace in the month previous thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown.

In the study, IHS Markit said UK GDP could fall at a quarterly rate of 7%.