LINDA White spent three years in Colchester training to be a midwife.

She worked at Colchester General Hospital for six years, before leaving to become a caseloading midwife at a hospital in Kings Lynn.

With her knowledge, experience and professionalism it would not cross any of our minds that she would need to use a foodbank.

But the truth is, she did.

It was due to a health condition she had to leave work, and found herself in need of financial support.

Linda, 55, said: "I left the hospital in Kings Lynn after a year as I had worsening Osteoarthritis in my back and knees, which made it difficult to do the 12 hour shifts.

"I was also becoming very disillusioned with the way midwifery was going. I moved back to Stoke-by-Nayland into a bungalow in June last year, as I was finding stairs increasingly more of a challenge."

She was unable to work for six months, while trying different pain relief and physiotherapy.

Once she was back on her feet by Christmas she was ready to find a job and went onto Job Seekers' Allowance.

However after paying bills she only had £80 a month to live on, which needed to cover expenses such as food.

She said: "As you can imagine this is very difficult. I heard about the foodbank and used it three times, as you can only have a voucher for the food bank three times every six months.

"I had to rely on friends as well.

"The staff at the foodbank were very helpful and a good listening ear. As you can imagine having no money or petrol you quickly become isolated.

"I would go a whole week hardly seeing or speaking to anyone."

Thankfully she is now back in work and hasn't needed to use the foodbank since, but she said the need for such support is forever increasing.

She said: "It's not just in Colchester but across the whole country.

"This government is so far removed from the needs of people in poverty. Universal Credit is not working and people are losing their homes due the extended wait for any payment.

"Preventing further poverty is too big a question for me to answer but we could start with with good education, childcare, access to preventative healthcare provisions, and more money spent on mental health services."

Michael Beckett, manager at Colchester Foodbank, stressed poverty can affect anyone, sometimes when we least expect it.

He said: "No-one expects a crisis to happen to them, but often it can do and we are ready to help pick up the pieces."

Colchester Foodbank is looking to raise funds for a permanent base close to their current premises in Moorside Business Park.

Linda said: "I think a permanent home for the foodbank would be brilliant. Maybe they could offer further services and support there."

To help generate funding, a Premises Fund has been set up with the Co-operative Bank.

Donations can be made to: Account name: Colchester Foodbank

Account number: 65361687

Sort Code: 08/92/99

Are you a foodbank customer? If you are happy to share your story with us and raise awareness please email katherine.palmer@newsquest.co.uk or call 01206 508414.

Alternatively contact Colchester Foodbank, who will put you in contact with a reporter.