A distribution centre supplying 17 food banks in a north London borough is to close after its funding was cut, in what has been described as a “devastating blow”.

The Rainbow Centre Food Bank said it sources more than 50% of its food and household items from the hub. Its manager Sarah Snell said it now has to “source that from elsewhere, which is a devastating blow for a lot of people”.

Bob Bevil of Chipping Barnet Foodbank said the withdrawal of funds had caused “nervousness” among organisations that “rely on it”.

Barnet Council blamed an “extremely difficult” financial climate for withdrawing funding from the Barnet Food Hub.

Ms Snell said of the centre: “We went there every week or every two weeks and they gave us rice, noodles, fresh produce, canned goods and fruit.”

“I speak on behalf of many food banks. Ours (users) have increased tenfold. For some of the food banks, it was their main source of food.”

She added: “Every week we have 80 people visiting us who feed an entire family. So in total we feed 250 to 300 people.”

Mr Bevil, an advocacy and campaign director, said he was “astonished” by the timeframe given to food banks to prepare for closure.

“When the food banks were informed in early August, they only had eight weeks to draw up an emergency plan,” he said.

“The communication of the decision was a farce, especially at a time when child poverty is rightly in the spotlight.”

Sarah Whitby, director of the Barnet Food Hub, highlighted the “serious impact” of the closure at the organisation’s last monthly food bank meeting, the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The company plans to build on existing partnerships with The Felix Project, Volunteers on Wheels and grocery retailers “to ensure continuation of some supplies in the short term.”

A spokesman for Barnet Borough Council said its support for the food hub was originally made possible by government Covid funding.

“We have maintained our support due to the cost of living crisis,” they said.

“Unfortunately, like other local authorities, we continue to face an extremely difficult financial environment.

“Although we have been able to support our hub longer than many other districts, we are unfortunately no longer able to finance its operating costs.”

They added that public health funding would be used to finance a “transitional phase” so that the supply of surplus food to Barnet food banks could continue until the end of the year.

“We will continue to work with local food banks and other partners to deliver on our commitment to reducing poverty and inequality in our district,” the spokesperson added.

“We recognize that the cost of living crisis is not over and we continue to offer support to our residents.”