Britain’s food aid crisis is far bigger than previously estimated as huge contributions from churches and parishes are ignored, new research has revealed.

Former Labour MP John Battle told the Star that Trussell Trust charity figures of 900,000 people going to foodbanks in the last year was underrepresenting the true level of food aid being provided by at least two-thirds.

Mr Battle was responding to a survey of 88 Catholic parishes in West Yorkshire conducted by Leeds Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission.

Its research revealed a huge amount of food aid being delivered to people “under the radar” by organisations such as the Catholic charity the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP).

Examples of other forms of food aid included churches providing hot meals and delivering food parcels to those in need.

The commission found that more than half of parishes in West Yorkshire were actively involved in providing food aid.

“Half of those responding had provided food to the Trussell Trust foodbank, but half as many again give food through the SVP,” the report said.

Mr Battle said that low pay was a critical reason why many people had turned to foodbanks.

Giving an example of a man he knows who stacks shelves in a supermarket, Mr Battle said: “If he gets a week when he has short hours, he will be going from the supermarket to the foodbank to pick up some of the food he has stacked to support his own family.”