• We have been asked to point out that this scheme is a separate project to the Droitwich Community Pantry and Fridge, which has no connection to this article

PEOPLE desperate for food are using "disrespectful language and behaviour" towards volunteers trying to help feed them. 

The community fridge project run by Moving Forward at the Westlands Community Centre in Meadow Way, Droitwich, has seen a huge uptake in people needing its service.

But with it, there has been an increase in incidents where volunteers have received disrespectful language and behaviour.

Nikki Beeston, project coordinator, said: "It makes me feel sad that there is such a need for food in a developed country, but equally, my volunteers feeling uncomfortable on occasions is sad in itself.

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"The volunteers we have give up a lot of time.

"They are here an hour before we start and after.

"It is sad that it has happened, and we had to put a [Facebook] post out.

"They are robust and tend to shrug it off."

The free, no questions asked service aims to provide members of the public with food when needed.

The service allows up to three people at a time into an area where they have food laid out and people can pick what they would like to take home to avoid food waste.

But volunteers have faced angry backlash when they have had to stop people who are trying to enter the room when it is not their turn.

Tonia Enderbury, chief officer of Droitwich CVS, said: "It is something set up because there is a need, but demand is increasing week on week and somedays, there is not much food we can give out.

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"We try to supplement feed with grant money if we have a grant.

"It is advertised as being 10pm to 1pm but with people queuing at 8.30am, the food is gone by midday."

Donations to the charity have declined massively, Ms Beeston added: "For example, we used to get a carload of food but now it is only half the amount - there has been a decrease."

CVS is currently looking for more volunteers to help across its varied services.