The scale of poverty in Falkirk district has been laid bare in a report describing how people "started crying" with relief to be helped pay for basics such as food, fuel and winter clothing for children.
Members of Falkirk Council heard this week that recent demand for the council's household support fund has been greater than expected.
It was initially launched to support families struggling to cope financially at the height of the coronavirus pandemic but was relaunched in September as part of a package of measures to tackle the cost of living crisis.
