AN EMERGENCY meeting has been arranged to ensure cash-strapped families in Peeblesshire don't go without food this Christmas.

Local church leaders have organised the event in St Peter's Church in the Eastgate, Peebles, on Wednesday, November 28, at 7.30pm.

And they have invited the public to attend.

It is hoped, with enough support, a food bank can be set up to serve the local community.

Last month the Peeblesshire News revealed thatsome food parcels had already been distributed in the area as families struggled to feed their families and cope with rising debts.

The Reverend Jim Benton-Evans, who has organised the public meeting later this month, said: "It has become increasingly apparent to some of us that the need for provision of emergency food supplies to people in crisis has reached Peeblesshire. "This awareness has come both through individual experiences and those of professionals and agencies on the ground locally, most powerfully those shared at the recent briefing on the Welfare Reform Act hosted by Scottish Borders Housing Association earlier this month. "Following that briefing, discussions were held among church leaders in Peebles and we now propose to move forward with all speed with a Trussell Trust Foodbank, based in Peebles but seeking to serve, at least initially, the area between Broughton and Walkerburn where there is currently no cover.

"Accordingly, we are hosting a meeting of churches, agencies, voluntary organisations and local people in St Peter's Church, Peebles, to explain the rationale and methodology behind a Foodbank, and to encourage agencies and individuals to support it.

"Ewan Gurr, Scottish Development Officer for the Trussell Trust will be giving a presentation to fill in much of the detail and to answer any questions people may have."