ORGANISERS of Selkirk Foodbank admit they are baffled by a recent downturn in customers.

While the rest of the country has witnessed increases in the need for emergency food parcels, mainly due to changes in benefits, the Selkirk volunteers have seen demand drop over the past 12 months.

Peter Birney from Selkirk Foodbank hopes a forthcoming Open Day will encourage anyone in need of help to come forward.

He told us: "Our numbers haven't increased like they have elsewhere - if anything we are down slightly on a year ago.

"That can be seen as a good thing, but we fear that there are people out there who need help and don't know we are here.

"We have a steady amount of referrals from social work, health and third-sector organisations as well as the churches, but we hope to reach out to even more people who need help."

Just last year the Trussell Trust, who organise and manage 52 foodbanks across the country, reported a 17 percent increase in demand during 2017/18 from the previous year.

And other locally-run foodbanks in the Borders have also seen demand rise in recent years.

Selkirk Foodbank was supplying up to a dozen parcels each week at the start of 2018.

But the volunteers currently distribute between half a dozen and ten most weeks since the turn of the year.

All school pupils in the town have now been given leaflets promoting the Open Day.

And posters are also being displayed around Selkirk.

Mr Birney hopes the Open Day at the Catholic Church Hall on Friday, April 5 will lead to more volunteers coming forward as well as raising awareness of the service.

He added: "People can find out how foodbanks operate and how they can become involved - everything from donating items, making referrals to volunteering.

"We will have food sampling and refreshments throughout the open day and we will have a warm welcome for everyone."

The Selkirk Foodbank Open Day on Friday, April 5 runs from 10am to 2pm.