A KIND-HEARTED village resident is setting up an open ‘pantry’ in Dunchurch to help struggling neighbours.

Paul Hayden-Hart, the man behind the pantry, wrote: “With the cost of living rising and benefits reducing, some of us may struggle a little. Dunchurch Pantry is a place where you can get free food to feed you and your family. No questions asked, discreet and confidential. Just take what you need.”

He added: “I’m doing this because I like to help people.

“The strapline is: give what you can - take what you need.”

The Dunchurch Pantry will be in the community library foyer, and people will be able to help themselves to whatever they need.

Paul is looking for donations of tins and pasta, which for now will be stored at his house.

He added that any food which was not taken would be given to Rugby Food Bank.

The Dunchurch Pantry is set to be available from Tuesday. It will be open during library hours, which at the moment are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 5pm.

Find out more on the Dunchurch Pantry Facebook page

On 6th October this year the UK Government removed the temporary Universal Credit uplift which had proved a lifeline to families across the UK during the pandemic.

Without the £20-per-week uplift, families receiving Universal Credit were expected to see a 5-10% drop to their benefits.

The news about the loss of the uplift came as a nationwide energy crisis also threatened to make UK household prices soar by hundreds of pounds.