A man who set up a foodbank to help other people says he now has to rely on it himself - after a blunder by benefits chiefs. 

Single parent Graham Holden, 44, relied on his weekly benefits of £86 to help top up his wages so he could feed himself and his 16-year-old son. 

Mr Graham, from Kinross, Perthshire, claims his benefits were suddenly cut off over false accusations he had a partner living with him. 

The "partner" benefits chiefs said he had, was a woman who was the previous tenant of his house.  

Graham, who founded Perthshire's Broke Not Broken foodbank, says he is now being forced to use the facility himself in order to survive. 

He works full-time for Perth and Kinross council at its recycling centre and earns £900 a month, but says most of that goes on rent and bills. 

His £86 weekly benefit stop-up was made up of working tax credit and child tax credit as his son is still at school. 

That was taken away by the taxman amid accusations he lived with a partner. 

But Graham says the woman suspected of living there was the previous tenant of the property and that he has never even met her. 

In March, he received a letter from Concentrix, part of an American organisation contracted by HMRC to investigate alleged benefit fraud. 

Graham said: "The letter asked me to send personal documents like bank statements and fuel bills, which I sent off along with a letter from my lawyer confirming I had custody of my son. 

"I heard nothing more until I went to top up my gas and electricity at the local shop and found my bank account was empty. 

"They had stopped my benefits without any warning. I was horrified. 

"I had to go to the Scottish Welfare Fund and get a crisis grant. 

"I spent eight hours trying to get through to HMRC without success and eventually phoned Concentrix. 

"The person I spoke to was very nice, but said the situation was out of his hands and that he was just carrying out instructions from HMRC. 

"I was so desperate I had to get vouchers to go to my own foodbank. 

"I just can't believe this is happening to me - and the sad thing is I know there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people going through the same thing." 

Graham now plans to meet with his MP, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, to discuss his options. 

A spokesman for HMRC said: "We don't comment on identifiable taxpayers.

"HMRC, and Concentrix on our behalf, routinely carry out checks on tax credit awards to make sure people are receiving the money they're entitled to.

"It is right that we take great care to make sure that correct payments are made and prevent customers getting into debt, which they may struggle to repay.

"When there is reason to believe someone's award may be incorrect we, or Concentrix, will write to them and allow 30 days for a reply.

"If a customer has difficulty supplying the information needed, they should contact Concentrix who will work with them to find alternatives."