As the row over free school meals during holidays continues, a local support group is offering food for children who normally rely on the service.

Helping Dawlish, a collaboration between the town council and 12 other organisations, will be giving out free packed lunches throughout this week.

The packages will contain sandwiches, crisps, fruit and a drink, and can be picked up from the Manor House between 11.30am and 12.30pm every day.

Parents will need to pre-book the lunchboxes by phoning or texting 07584 052 306 by 9.30am on the day of collection, and they must bring proof of their local address.

Helping Dawlish said a generous anonymous donation has enabled them to offer the free food.

As reported earlier, The Boathouse restaurant in Dawlish Warren is also offering free meals for children this week, again with pre-booking necessary.

What local councils are doing to help

Devon County Council said it has been working with the district authorities to make sure hardship support is available to vulnerable families.

Speaking on Monday, October 26, its leader, Cllr John Hart, said: "We have already allocated £1.7 million this year through a shared hardship fund to ensure that the most needy children and families in Devon do not go hungry."

He said the county council shared £1 million of its funding between the districts, alongside a further £700,000 from the Government, and this funding is supporting grants to people and families suffering hardship across Devon.

He added: "Around £600,000 of this is still available and I would urge anyone who needs help providing food for their children to apply for this extra assistance through their district council's helpline.

"The individual district councils have used the cash in different ways to best help their local communities. For example, some have funded the voluntary sector and others have issued vouchers or provided food directly using their helplines as a point of contact."

Cllr Hart said he is now writing to the Government saying the council's financial position will limit its ability to provide this support beyond the spring.

He said: "We therefore urgently call on the Government to properly fund support for all vulnerable people in Devon affected by the financial impacts of the pandemic."

Teignbridge District Council has posted on social media, saying: "Devon County provide school meals. Teignbridge Council supports foodbanks HITS (Homeless In Teignbridge Support) 01626 906371 and THAT (Teignbridge Homeless Action Today) 01626 437310.

"For holiday meals contact them direct. Thanks to all volunteers for their amazing help".

Why our local MP supports the campaign

Last Wednesday, the Conservative MP for Newton Abbot, Anne Marie Morris, voted against her party in support of Labour's motion to continue directly funding provision of free school meals over the school holidays until Easter 2021.

In her weekly column published on her website today, she explained her reasons for doing so.

She said 35 per cent of workers in her constituency had been furloughed at some point since March, and many others had lost their jobs, which had almost certainly affected their ability to feed their families.

She acknowledged that the Government had taken 'significant action' to help families through the pandemic, and said it is vital to 'focus on delivering the best life chances possible for our children'.

You can read her column in full by visiting Anne Marie Morris's website