The area's foodbank marked its fifth birthday over the weekend in a bittersweet ceremony.

Volunteers, politicians and friends gathered at the site of a new warehouse unit on Saturday, which will hold supplies for the increasing number of people that rely on the Epping Forest Foodbank.

Since it opened in 2013, the foodbank has distributed 34,500 meals to people referred or who attended Food in the School Holidays Clubs, known as F.I.S.H.

Stephen Murray, Mayor of Loughton, spoke of his sadness at the fact a foodbank had to exist in Epping Forest.

He said: "On an occasion like this it is normal to start by saying how pleased I am to be here this afternoon however, if I am being entirely honest, I would have to say that I would rather not be here today.

"I am certain that all us gathered here would prefer that there was no need for a foodbank here in Epping Forest however, given that there is a clear need for your existence, I am absolutely delighted to be here to mark the opening of the new warehouse unit and to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the start of this excellent community project.

"Epping Forest Foodbank and yourselves play an absolutely crucial role in meeting this basic human requirement for all local families to be able to put food on the table."

Cllr Murray then read out testimonials from users of the foodbank, including one person who said without its help "we’d simply not eat, we’d have gone without."

Another sent a thank you card which read: "I just wish more people in need knew about you guys because your amazing. I am getting my life back on track and I just wanted to say a big thank you."

Cllr Murray went on to thank a number of people instrumental to the foodbank's success.

These included volunteers, businesses such as The Bookshop , Superdrug, EFE barbers and Strawberry Glow which had donated vouchers to mark the anniversary, churches Restore, Loughton St Mary’s and the Epping Churches and individuals such as Paul Howard, who raised £1,000 this year running the Hamburg Marathon.

Heather Scholer - who runs the foodbank and was referred to as a "human dynamo" by Cllr Murray - was also praised.

To find out more, go to www.eppingforest.foodbank.org.uk