An RSPCA charity shop in Worcester is one of the latest outlets to set up a pet food bank as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite across the UK.

Manager Sam Fredericks set up the food bank to help pet owners struggling financially.

Sam said: “I've been brought to tears with how bad people are struggling. It has all been made possible by our rehoming centre where donations for the pet food bank and for the shop can be dropped off.”

The rehoming centre supplied the food for the bank initially as they were not able to use some donated products in time, and didn’t want it to go to waste.

Sam, who is hoping to make the food bank a permanent fixture in the shop, added: “So far the it has been a real success for people in desperate need of help.

“It would be great to continue it after the New Year and if we could get some pet stores, however big or small, to get behind us that would be fantastic.

“We would also like to encourage people to donate anything that owners might need for their pets.”

Any shops wishing to support the RSPCA food bank in Worcester can contact Sam on 07411593324 or sam@rspcaworcester.org.uk.

Elsewhere, a pet owner in Melksham has also set up a food bank. Wendy Isaacs, who used to own a pet shop in the Wiltshire town, runs the service through a Facebook page.

Wendy told the Melksham Independent News website: “Many people are struggling to feed their families at the moment, let alone their pets and as a result, people’s pets are hungry, or they are having to get rid of them.”