According to the Darlington Salvation Army food bank - an organisation located in the North East of England - women have resorted to using newspapers, tissues and socks in place of standard feminine hygiene products because they are unable to afford tampons and sanitary towels.
The issue which has been highlighted by both The Pool and The Independent serves as a reminder that the discussion surrounding tax on tampons - an item which is classified as a luxury - is not going to just disappear of its own accord.
It is understood that the food bank, which has initiated a campaign to highlight the dangers associated with using certain items in place of tampons or pads, has begun providing women with free sanitary products in an effort to reduce the harmful implications of the practice.
Commenting on the shocking situation, Major Colin Bradshaw, who runs the County Durham food bank, admitted he was stunned by the revelations, saying: "No woman should be in this situation. No woman should have to beg for a tampon."
According to The Independent newspaper, the food bank contacted 191 female MPs to raise awareness of the issue, but only three have seen fit to make contact with Major Bradshaw in light of the situation.
As it stands, a petition urging Prime Minister Cameron to end the tampon tax has garnered 317,765 supporters.
