WARRINGTON Borough Council has moved to reassure residents that ‘no child will go hungry’ in the town after concerns over free school meals.

The government has promised that it will investigate after images of ‘woefully inadequate’ care packages provided for pupils in need while schools are closed were shared on social media.

In one case, a £30 bundle was estimated to contain only £5.22 of food.

But the council says that all of the town’s schools are issuing food vouchers to eligible families, while a small number of parcels are being provided by their kitchens.

And WBC has promised that ‘no schoolchild will go hungry in Warrington’.

Leader Cllr Russ Bowden and executive board member for children’s services Cllr Matt Smith said: “We want to reassure parents following concerns raised about the standard of the food parcels being provided nationally to children eligible for free school meals during the current lockdown.

“Some of the pictures we have seen of the food parcels provided to families by the government’s contractor have been really saddening.

“Our children need the best, healthiest start to life for their wellbeing and to be successful learners.

“A child cannot concentrate properly on a grumbling stomach, and we believe that parents should not be exposed to extra anxiety at what is already a very difficult time.

“We are pleased to say that all of Warrington’s schools are providing supermarket vouchers for eligible children, with a small number of food parcels being produced by school kitchens for those families where a voucher isn’t suitable.

“The cost of basic food is going up and families are under so much pressure, and we really hope that the vouchers issued by Warrington’s schools provide the support our children and families need.

“They enable parents to make the most of the £15 per week funding available and also to make the right choices for their children.”