EXPERTS in Oxford have highlighted a strong link between increased benefit sanctions and higher use of foodbanks.

Oxford University researchers sifted through three years of data from foodbank provider The Trussell Trust, concluding that penalties to people claiming benefits saw a rise in reliance on handouts.

They assessed 259 councils between 2012 and 2015 and found as the rate of sanctioning increased, so did that of foodbank use.

As sanctioning decreased, foodbank use also decreased.

Lead author Dr Rachel Loopstra said: "These findings show clear evidence of sanctions being linked to economic hardship and hunger, as we see a close relationship between sanctioning rates and rates of foodbank usage across local authorities in the UK."

The Trussell Trust is recommending the introduction of a 'yellow card' penalty as a warning, before having to resort to a financial penalty.

It is already being piloted in Scotland and gives claimants 14 days to appeal before a sanction is imposed.

The trust's foodbank network director Adrian Curtis said: "The findings from this groundbreaking study tell us once and for all: the more people sanctioned, the more people need foodbanks.

"We now need to listen to the stories behind the statistics: families go hungry, debt spiral, and the heating doesn't go on even as temperatures drop.

"We still see people being referred to our foodbanks who have been sanctioned unfairly."

The findings are from the first phase of a 16-month study into foodbank use and the economy and welfare system.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: "The reasons for foodbank use are complex, and it is misleading to link them to any one issue.

"Sanctions have fallen sharply over the past year."