A Highland charity which distributes food parcels is having to turn away desperate people because of a lack of resources.

HomeAid Caithness and Sutherland distributes emergency food parcels to families in need throughout the Highlands.

The charity is struggling to meet demand for aid since its supply from the Blythwood Food Bank in Inverness was cut in half.

The cut comes as a result of a drop in donations from around the area and more pressure on the Blythwood service.

HomeAid general manager Michele Whibley said: "Sometimes people come into the shop and say 'I am sorry we cannot give you a food parcel until next week'.

"One lady came to our warehouse the other day that came in for a food parcel and we had to turn her away.

"Most of the people that come forward have had their benefits delayed. They end up on our door because they have nowhere else to go."

The Highland charity went into partnership with the Inverness-based food bank a couple of years ago.

HomeAid receives food packages from Blythwood, which they can distribute across the Caithness and Sutherland area.

Ms Whibley said: "Because the stocks of food in Inverness are getting less and less and demand is increasing, we our food parcels have been cut.

"We are not getting as many as we would normally. I can guarantee they will be gone by the end of the week."

Ms Whibley said she had a "fantastic" response from people in the Highland region last year when she appealed for food to be donated.

For the second year she is urging people to come forward and donate food for those in need.

IN DETAIL

• For information on the HomeAid charity go to: www.homeaid.org.uk