BENEFIT sanctions are leading to a clear increase in the number of people having to go to foodbanks for emergency supplies, an Oxford University study has found.

Researchers analysed data from across 259 local authorities between 2012 and 2015 found that found that as the rate of sanctioning increased within local authorities, the rate of foodbank use also increased, with on average five more adults referred to foodbanks for every 10 additional sanctions applied.

The findings are the first phase of a 16-month study into how trends in foodbank usage relate to changes in the economy and welfare system.

Foodbanks in The Trussell Trust network saw a spike in numbers after 2013, when one million sanctions were applied and changes to Jobseeker's Allowance came in.

In 2012/13 350,000 emergency food supplies were distributed, rising to 913,000 in 2013/14. The Oxford Foodbank food bank delivers and supplies 2,000 meals a day.

Dr Rachel Loopstra from Oxford University's Department of Sociology, the paper's lead author, 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."