A food bank should be up and running in Cudworth by September, according to organisers.

Fr David Nicholson, of St John The Baptist Church, said he is hoping everything will be in place by the time schoolchildren return after the summer holidays.

A meeting was held on Tuesday to discuss its progress.

Two possible venues have been highlighted by Cudworth councillor Joe Hayward as distribution centres - one in Dog Hill, Shafton, and the other using two spare rooms in Cudworth library.

The food bank would also serve Shafton and Grimethorpe but Fr David said the Dog Hill site was 'too far out' of Cudworth.

"If we could keep it in Cudworth that's what the plan has been all along," he said.

Food donations are filling up nicely and the group is wanting to contact schools to ask parents to donate to the cause, he said.

"It encourages the children to be part of something which is going to be benefiting their peers.

"The number of free school meals being offered in the parish is for 25 per cent of school children. There are nearly 1,000 children going into junior schools."

The food bank would work on a voucher basis, he said, with each voucher entitling a person to enough food for three days including breakfast, dinner and tea.

The group also discussed using local supermarkets where shoppers could donate extra items to be collected by volunteers.

Those who really needed items before September will be able to access them, Fr David said.

Shelving will be required at the chosen distribution centre and the group is asking local businesses if they can help out.