Family butcher Phil Marley (pictured above, centre, with colleagues Pietro Lamesta, right and Sam Wolloms) believes that the number of people trapped in poverty in Ripon and the surrounding areas, is increasing on a daily basis.

His reasons for concern can be measured in the number of free meat packs that Marley's is delivering on a weekly basis to 40 households in desperate need.

Mr Marley, who owns and runs the shop in North Street Ripon with support from suppliers and a customer, put an item on Facebook to say that he would help people in dire need and quickly found people in Ripon and across the neighbouring rural areas calling for help to feed their families.

He told The Stray Ferret:

The 40 households receive a weekly pack consisting of items such as a lamb, pork or beef joint, chicken, sausages and mince, which would normally cost around £25.



Mr Marley pointed out:

With more and more calls for assistance coming in, Mr Marley added:

In November - months before coronavirus reached the UK - North Yorkshire's Director of Public Health, Dr Lincoln Sargeant, published a report titled 'Life in times of change - health and hardship in North Yorkshire' which estimated that 92,000 people (15 percent) living in the county fall within the government's definition of poverty.

Dr Sargeant said in the report that he noted a re-emergence of destitution:

He added: