CASH-starved Poole families are going days without food while British supermarket prices rocket almost three times faster than the rest of Europe.

The number of desperate people pleading with Poole Citizens Advice Bureau for help feeding their children has risen “significantly” since Christmas, say concerned staff.

CAB Poole’s Sue Bristow told the Daily Echo: “We are seeing families who have not eaten in days.

“One of the difficulties they are experiencing is that the price of food and utilities are going up, while their wages or benefits cannot keep pace.”

Sue says before the recession the CAB handed out one or two food vouchers a month – now they hand out three or four a week.

These vouchers can be exchanged for emergency three-day food packs from the Poole Food Bank.

Sue added: “We have families who have literally no food in the house because their money has run out and they cannot buy anything.

“People have to juggle their money, particularly if they are on low wages or benefits.

“One week they may have to pay the heating bill and this means they may not be able to eat.”

Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Annette Brooke is now calling for an investigation into why British prices are rising so fast, after a report published yesterday by the Swiss bank UBS, said food prices rose 4.9 per cent over the past year.

That compared to 1.8 per cent in the Euro zone and 1.5 per cent in America.

The report said commodities inflation would justify an increase a three per cent on processed food but supermarkets increased prices by six per cent.

Mrs Brooke said: “On the basis of the report, there is a strong case for an investigation, particularly as the market is dominated by five to six supermarkets. It could be a question for the Office of Fair Trading.

“The big question is why. We have a relatively low value for the pound and that could be affecting imports.

“I have got lots of constituents who are really struggling at the moment with food and fuel prices.”

The Echo spoke to small businesses and shoppers in Bournemouth town centre who said they had no choice but to spend more money.

Pauline Hacipasaoglu, 55, from The Chippy, said the daily shopping run for supermarket provisions had gone up from £5 to £8 over the past year.

Chris Gallantry, 69, from Wallisdown, said: “Meat is up and the price of eggs is unbelievable, but they are essential items.”

Richard Knott, from S’Juiced sandwich bar, said the cost of bread from his supplier in Boscombe had increased from £1.02 to £1.12 over the past year.

He said: “Unlike the supermarkets we can’t put our prices up. We have to be loyal to our customers.”

Last week the Echo reported how demand for free food from Bournemouth Food Bank was “going up all the time” after rising costs pushed families “over the edge” into poverty.