Charity said there is no disruption to services

Hygiene concerns have lead to a food bank in Dumfries closing.

Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) forced closure of the First Base Agency in the town after significant issues were found at an inspection.

The charity gives out hundrerds of food parcels each week.

Mark Frankland, who runs the charity, said said there had been no interruption of service and new premises had already been found.

Issues surrounding the handling of fresh food were uncovered during a routine spot check of the facility leading to its closure.

"Following an inspection by the council's environmental health team, the First Base Agency food bank at Buccleuch Street, Dumfries, was closed due to significant breaches of food hygiene regulations," said a DGC statement.

it said a number of council teams had worked with the agency to ensure it was able to continue to "provide support to those who need it from facilities that meet the required food hygiene standards".

Frankland stressed that the food bank's services had not been interrupted by the closure of Buccleuch Street and nobody who needed a food parcel had gone without.

"All of us at First Base are disappointed that our building was not deemed appropriate for issuing food parcels," he said.

"But we are delighted that Independent Living Support are now handling our food parcels in the town centre."

The new facility is located on the town's George Street Meuse.