Forty people a day in west London use foodbanks, new figures reveal.

Figures released by the Trussell Trust show that between April and September this year a staggering 7,259 people were helped by the charity's foodbanks. This works out as 1,210 a month or 40 a day, writes Patrick Scott.

It is also a 28 per cent increase on the 946 people per month in west London who accessed a foodbank in the nine month period between April 2013 and December 2013.

The Trussell Trusts runs a network of over 400 foodbanks across the UK. Every time somebody visits a foodbank they are given three days' worth of food.

Ealing foodbank has seen the biggest increase in demand recently with 247 people accessing it a month between April and September 2014, up from only 35 a month between April and December 2013.

The Trust's report says that problems with the social security system continue to be the biggest overall trigger for foodbank use. However, a new emerging trend is that 22 per cent of those helped were referred because of low income compared to 16 per cent of referrals in the same period last year.

Trussell Trust Chief Executive, David McAuley said: "Whilst the rate of new foodbanks opening has slowed dramatically, we're continuing to see a significant increase in numbers helped by foodbanks.

"Substantial numbers are needing help because of problems with the social security system but what's new is that we're also seeing a marked rise in numbers of people coming to us with 'low income' as the primary cause of their crisis.

"Incomes for the poorest have not been increasing in line with inflation and many, whether in low paid work or on welfare, are not yet seeing the benefits of economic recovery. Instead, they are living on a financial knife edge where one small change in circumstances or a 'life shock' can force them into a crisis where they cannot afford to eat."

The number of people who visited each foodbank in west London was was as follows:

Foodbank // Helped per month April 2012 March 2013 // Helped per month April to Dec 2013 // Helped per month April to September 2014

Brent // 192 // 90 // 143

Westminster // 54 // 91 // 85

Kensington & Chelsea // 12 // 55 // 75

Harrow // 0 // 136 // 229

Hillingdon // 79 // 197 // 141

Hammersmith & Fulham // 218 // 341 // 290

Ealing // 0 // 35 // 247