Cash-strapped parents have been to a charity to kit out their children with school uniforms for the start of term.

The Gillingham Street Angels, which provides support for the needy and vulnerable, has handed out more than three times more clothing items in the last few weeks compared to this time last year.

The clothes bank started from its warehouse in Chatham a year ago with just a couple of crates of shirts in the reception area.

Now it has expanded to six rails, four crates and a unit with donations delivered every day.

Gina Carpenter, a volunteer co-ordinator, said "We have been really busy. We had seven families come along this morning alone who between then had 15 children.

"Some people are telling it can cost £300 per child for uniform including PE kit.

"With the cost of living and rising fuel prices, people just don't have that sort of money."

Ms Carpenter said they were seeing an increasing number of professional people, including teachers and nurses, using their services.

The former teaching assistant and mum-of-two said "While most are seeing it as a fact of life others are still too embarrassed.

She said: "We have schools that encourage families to take advantage of ways we can help. But there are still those who feel they can't come along and in some cases the schools act on their behalf."

While most parents wait to the end of the summer break, she said there was an influx just before the holiday started.

She said "We had parents say their children could not take part in sports day because they did not have the correct kit."

She added they had encountered problems with some schools which insist pupils have branded clothing.

She said:"There are some, mainly secondary schools, that say they must have a particular type of blazer which works out a lot more expensive."

In June, the charity launched Give Your Sole Away, an appeal for shoes in which primary school children were encouraged to donate their old footwear on the last day of term

The uniform bank in Jenkins Dale is open throughout the year.

To inquire about donating or to request an order form, email recycling@thestreet-angels.org