The food bank charity Trussell is warning that almost nine million people are at risk of needing a food bank over the next year unless the government acts.
The charity is urging the Chancellor, John Healey, to take urgent action at next week's Budget so that people can afford at least the essentials, according to a Mirror report published late on 20 October. AOL and Brit Brief also carry the figure.
The nine million figure is Trussell's own estimate. It has not been independently checked, and the charity's method has not been set out in the reports. Its specific requests for the Budget have not yet been detailed.
Mr Healey delivers the Budget to the Commons on Wednesday 28 October.