AN extra half a million pounds is being spend on emergency charity food supplies to pre-empt an increase in poverty with a no deal Brexit.

The Scottish Government has allocated eh cash to FareShare, which distributes surplus food to people struggling to feed themselves and their families.

Communities secretary Aileen Campbell visited a Fareshare centre in Crookston in Glasgow to announce the funding.

She said the money was in addition to £3.5 already given to the charity from the Fair Food Fund.

She said: “In a country as prosperous as ours, everyone should have access to affordable, nutritious food.

“Our further investment in FareShare and community groups like Crookston ensures we reach more of the people who need help the most.

“This extra funding will further help those who have been badly hit by the UK Government’s cuts, which mean that welfare spending will be reduced in Scotland by £3.7 billion in 2020/21.

“We are also taking this step to insure ourselves against the economic damage of a possible exit from the EU.

“It is shocking that we have to do so, but the deal proposed by the UK Government would make people poorer and undo much of the great progress we have made as a nation to tackle inequalities and poverty.”

The UK is due to leave the EU on March 29 and a no deal scenario has been warned will lead to job losses, higher prices and potential food shortages

Ms Campbell added “Regardless of the Brexit outcome, we will continue our plans to tackle food insecurity.

“Scotland is the only country in the UK to routinely monitor food insecurity using the UN’s recommended measure and we are continuing to address the underlying causes.”