One in five UK households borrowed money or used savings to cover food costs in April, a Which? survey says.

It suggests the equivalent of five million households used credit cards, overdrafts or savings to buy food.

The consumer group runs a monthly insight tracker survey focused on spending and behaviour - 2,000 people took part in its poll.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd described the findings as "simply shocking".

The figures come despite official statistics last week showing that personal insolvencies have dropped to their lowest levels in five years.

Of the households covered by the Which? survey, 43% were headed by people between 30 and 50, and just under half had incomes under £21,000.

The research found that 55% of those using credit to do weekly shopping planned to cut back on food in the coming months, with almost a third saying they had to borrow from friends or family in order to make ends meet.

The study also found that one quarter of people said that they were living comfortably on their incomes and that more than one third - 36% - felt their finances were under pressure.

Almost one third - 31% - of those surveyed cut back spending on essentials last month, and they were most likely to be women aged between 30 and 49.

Mr Lloyd said: "Our tracker shows that many households are stretched to their financial breaking point, with rising food prices one of the top worries for squeezed consumers.

"It's simply shocking that so many people need to use savings or credit to pay for essentials like food."

A spokesman for Oxfam said that millions of people were under pressure from a combination of rising prices and stagnant incomes - with their problems added to by cuts to services and safety nets.

What are the big supermarket chain profits like over there.

I'd bet they are excellent.

Demand for food bank assistance in Devon and Cornwall has more than doubled, according to one of the biggest providers.

The Trussell Trust, a national Christian charity, currently operates 16 food banks across the counties.

It said rising food and fuel costs, static income and unemployment had contributed to the increase.

Working with local churches and communities, the trust said its aim was to open a food bank in every town.

In Bodmin, Cornwall, a drop-in food bank hosted by the town's Christian Fellowship, which has been running once a week, has taken the decision to double the number of weekly sessions to keep up with demand.
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A lot of people who are in work are just not making ends meet”

Jacqui White, a project manager for the trust's Wadebridge branch, said it was an "ongoing" problem for people living in an area with low incomes, high rents and seasonal work.

"It's a difficult time for everybody - even a lot of people who are in work are just not making ends meet," she told BBC News.

"About 90% of the time they can, but then if they get a big bill in for something - a boiler that's broken down or a car that's broken down - they just can't meet it."