A new foodbank-friendly recipe book has been published to stop some of the area's most vulnerable residents going hungry.

Voluntary group Slow Food Aylsham worked with local chef Derrol Waller to design Kitchen Cupboard Recipes - specifically for those who rely on food handouts to survive.

The booklet includes recipes for many tasty dishes which have been produced using ingredients commonly found in emergency food parcels, including vegetable soup, all day breakfast and strawberry jewel pudding.

The Aylsham-based organisation this week presented Cromer and District Foodbank - which feeds over 2000 people a year - with 100 free copies of the book to include in its food parcels.

Slow Food Aylsham leader Roger Willis said: 'It is the first time we have done anything for the foodbank and the first time we have published a recipe book.

'The recipes are all designed around the ingredients which clients could expect to have in their food boxes.

'One of our members, Margaret Brooker, came up with the idea and we developed it from there.'

Slow Food Aylsham is a voluntary organisation, part of the worldwide Slow Food movement. As well as working closely with the local community, it organises the Aylsham Food Festival, held each year at the beginning of October.

The kitchen-friendly recipe book, which can be opened flat and wiped clean, is just one of a number of initiatives it is involved in. It is also working with the Sure Start children's centre in Aylsham to run a series of cooking workshops to help families cook more economically.

Ella King, project manager at Cromer District Foodbank, said: 'We have some young people who are very inexperienced at cooking with more traditional ingredients and the recipe book gives them some ideas of what to do with their standard food package, which is tailored to give them a balanced diet.

'Slow Food Aylsham has created some simple recipes which with some inexpensive extras can make something quite fulfilling and exciting.'

Cromer and District Foodbank helps families in crisis.

Its clients access services through front-line support groups such as Citizens' Advice Bureaux, School Parent Advisors, Health Visitors, Housing Associations and Money Management Advisors, all of whom hold food bank vouchers.

The vouchers can be presented at one of the distribution centres in Aylsham, Cromer, Holt, North Walsham, Sheringham or Stalham in exchange for a food parcel sufficient for at least three days.

Ms King added: 'We are sure the recipe books will be helpful and a source of inspiration for our clients.'

Details of food bank locations and opening times, as well as advice on where to obtain vouchers is available from Project Manager Ella King on 07826 376 343 or email info@cromerdistrict.foodbank.org.uk