Local charities say food parcels have doubled in a year as people used to earning good money in the oil and gas sector have fallen on hard times

Former oil workers are queuing up to use food banks in Aberdeen, formerly one of the UK’s most prosperous cities, as 12-year lows in the price of crude this week propel the North Sea industry deeper into crisis.

Hundreds of staff are being laid off every week as producers, drillers and service companies slash their spending in moves which are hurting local businesses, from estate agents to hoteliers and taxi drivers.

Related: Oil services giant Schlumberger axes 10,000 jobs after $1bn loss

Related: Shell warns of 50% cut in profits amid plunging oil price

Related: Oil price woes deepen as Iran vows to add 500,000 barrels a day

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