Richmond Council is developing a half-term food support package for vulnerable children.

Earlier this week, MPs voted down a proposal to make free school meals available outside term time for the next six months.

With half-term about to begin, social enterprise Achieving for Children will run a food voucher scheme.

It will ensure children from the borough's lowest income families don't go hungry over the break.

Guidance will be launched early next week to let eligible families know how they can collect their voucher.

Read next: Richmond Rugby to supply local children with free meals

Cllr Robin Brow is finance and resources lead member on Richmond Council.

He said: "In these unprecedented times, I am very concerned to be doing all we can to help lower income families and their children who are really struggling due to the impact of the virus.

"It beggars belief that the government have failed to address this issue.

"Yet again hard-pressed local authorities are coming to the rescue. We have happily set aside the funding that's needed to ensure children from some of our poorest families don't go hungry this half term, and we will also look to extend the scheme over the Christmas period."

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