AN ORPINGTON foodbank below the flat where a woman lost her life in a fire has suffered huge damage and been forced to shut indefinitely.

Fire crews were called on Saturday evening to where a fire had started at Ranmore Path, St Mary Cray.

The charity is now appealing to businesses and individuals to help it get back on its feet.

It started two years ago and normally opens three times a week to give food to families in need and direct them to other services.

Unfortunately, Orpington foodbank does not have contents insurance and so the volunteer-run centre is hoping people will donate money and food to help keep them going.

There is severe water and smoke damage throughout the centre.

Eileen Childs, 62, has volunteered as a manager since the centre started and is devastated that so much of the building and food supplies are ruined.

She said: “Obviously a lady has lost her life and that's the most important thing.

“I was in tears in church when we were told what had happened."

"But when I walked in here and saw what had happened to the place, I was gutted.”

She said the foodbank gave more food to people in the last three months than in the whole of the year before.  The charity helps up to 60 people every day it is open.

The facility was created by Oak Community Church and the Trussell Trust although some volunteers have no connection to the church. Two people who used to receive food from the centre now work there on a regular basis.

Anyone who wishes to donate should call the foodbank on 07774526562.