A community food pantry offering heavily discounted prices to tackle food poverty has launched.

The pantry can be found at Edmonton Green Library as part of Enfield Council’s efforts to help people in financial difficulty have access to healthy food.

Users will pay £4.50 a week and will be able to purchase the equivalent of £20 worth of food.

It is the first in a line of other pantries managed by the council that will be opened in the near future in the borough.

Anyone relying on the pantry will also be given access to welfare, debt management and employment and skills training.

The hub at the library was decided to be the first spot after research revealed that residents in the area are most in need of help and support.

Cllr Mary Maguire, cabinet member for finance and procurement, said: “I am pleased that the first community pantry has opened its doors to residents in Edmonton, who are most in need of our help and support.

“The general ethos of a pantry is to give a hand up, not a handout, as we help those with the most complex needs in our local communities.

“By establishing dedicated community hubs located within libraries, we are enabling residents, particularly those with more complex needs, to access integrated support in one place.”

To be able to access the pantry, users will be referred by the council’s welfare and debt advisory team, who will hold an assessment.

The community pantry will be open on Tuesdays from 1pm-3pm and Wednesdays from 10am-12noon and 1pm-3pm.