Between half and two-thirds of people using food banks do so because of benefits sanctions and delays, a new study has found.

The survey of more than 1000 foodbank users across the UK was carried out by Oxfam, Child Poverty Action Group, the Church of England and the Trussell Trust.

Its findings challenge the insistence by the UK Government that welfare reforms and cuts are not the reason for the huge increase in foodbank use across the UK.

The number of people receiving three days' supplies from food banks increased from almost 129,000 in 2011-12 to more than 913,000 a year later, Trussell Trust figures show. In Scotland foodbank use rose from 5726 users to 71,428 last year.

Researchers found that between half and two thirds of users reported a specific problem with benefits. Of these 28-24 per cent were waiting for a benefit claim which had not been decided, 19-28 per cent had had payments stopped due to an alleged breach of job centre rules and 9-11 per cent had had Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) stopped because they were found 'fit for work'.

The report calls for increased access to hardship payments, improvements to ESA, and better support, especially at jobcentres.

However campaigners also said the Scottish government and other Scottish authorities could do more to mitigate the impact of welfare cuts and other financial crises facing families.

The report found many foodbank users are not aware of crisis payments they could receive, and few are using them.