THOUSANDS of people flooded to Glasgow's George Square yesterday with grocery donations as The Trussell Trust revealed foodbank visits in Scotland have soared 73% in one year.

The Trust, which operates the largest network of foodbanks in the UK, also said that donations and offers of help have risen sharply since the independence referendum.

At some foodbanks, staff are turning away offers from people to become volunteers, although they are quick to emphasise that donations of food are very much still needed.

Scotland network manager Ewan Gurr said that although the charity is non-political and non-partisan, he feels the momentum created by the Yes campaign is now being funnelled into a proactive need to help ­Scotland's poorest.

Gurr said: "We have been absolutely overwhelmed by donations since the referendum. We have seen a real surge in the number of people come forward to donate and also to volunteer their time, and we're hearing that right across the network of foodbanks in Scotland.

"Four of Scotland's five most deprived communities have exercised their democratic muscle and voted Yes. People have campaigned and, despite the outcome, they are returning to trying to work out a solution to the problem of why people are unable to put food on the table."

Darren Carnegie and his father, Andrew, are behind the charity Glasgow's Needy, which held the original impromptu food collection last Saturday in the wake of Friday night's loyalist violence in the square.

Darren said: "Austerity cuts are disgraceful and one of the reasons we backed a Yes campaign.

"When I go to people's houses and when I help people, I don't just give them food, I find out about them and how they got into poverty. For a big percentage of people it is because of austerity cuts by the Government.

"I believe if we had got a Yes vote, it would have taken away one of the main reasons why my foodbank exists. But I am not disheartened [with the referendum result]. The fact there has been such a major turnout and people becoming involved in social issues can only be good."

The pair returned to George Square yesterday with peace banners, children's theatre and musicians, turning the food drive into a mini-festival of goodwill. Again, thousands of pounds worth of food was left in the city centre civic space with donors quietly laying down bags of tins, cereals and toiletries before either joining the event or simply slipping away.

Darren, speaking of Scottish MP Eric Joyce's comments that the events of last week were "poverty porn", said: "I don't hate the man, but I would urge him to come and speak to me and I will tell him about poverty and urge him to rethink his views. I would love for a face-to-face audience to discuss matters."

Falkirk - Joyce's constituency - also saw a large public foodbank collection yesterday.

Figures from The Trussell Trust show 8605 people, including 2570 children, were served in Scotland's foodbanks in August this year, against 4975 people, including 1562 children, the same time last year, a rise of 73%.

Across Scotland this weekend, rallying calls have gone out and people have responded with donations of food.

In Edinburgh, crowds sang We Shall Overcome at a rally outside the Scottish Parliament, which also saw people leave donations for foodbanks.

And Charlene Broderick, organiser of a rally and collection in Aberdeen today, said 800 people had committed via Facebook to attend the event.

She said: "It is really about helping Aberdeen become better and raising awareness there are less fortunate people that need things many take for granted in everyday life, like food and soap. We just want to help."

Tara Maguire, Glasgow North East foodbank project co-ordinator for The Trussell Trust, said the charity has also seen an increase in standing orders for donations, and in young people coming forward to volunteer.

Maguire came to The Trussell Trust for help herself when she could no longer manage to feed her two young sons. Following the breakdown of her marriage she found herself sleeping in her car and on friends' sofas, too ashamed to ask for help from her mother or her children's fathers.

She said: "I made some bad decisions and ended up in the situation I was in. I didn't want to ask my mum for help because I was too embarrassed and I didn't want to go to the boys' dads because I was worried I would lose my children, although I know they would have helped me.

"When I finally looked for help from the Trust I just wanted to get in the door and out again, but they kept me talking and were so helpful.

"You see people pacing up and down outside because they're too anxious about coming in, but more than 50% of our volunteers have used foodbanks. We can say, 'I know how that feels,' and mean it.

"I began volunteering in Maryhill and now I am employed by The Trussell Trust. I had no confidence, being on benefits erodes your sense of self, your confidence, but now I feel like a new person. I'm good at this and my sons can see how positive it is for mum to be working."

Talking about the recent surge in donations, Maguire said: "It's like Christmas. It's exactly like the run-up to Christmas. People are just desperate to help."

To donate or find out about further Glasgow rallies, see facebook.com/glasgowsneedy