CHILDREN who normally get free school meals will receive vouchers to cover the cost of food during the coronavirus pandemic.

Wirral Council has stepped in to ensure no child goes without a lunch now schools are closed as part of Government measures to tackle the spread of the virus.

Parents of children who are eligible for free meals will receive a voucher from the school.

It can be used to buy food from local supermarkets to provide the lunchtime meal their child would usually get.

This shopping should be done as infrequently as possible in line with the 'stay at home' instructions brought announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week.

To ease pressure on families, the council will also provide the vouchers to eligible children though the Easter holidays.

Parents of eligible children will be contacted by the school using the contact details they have on record for families.

Paul Boyce, corporate director for children's services, said: "We know this is a very challenging time for families across Wirral, especially those who would usually receive support through their child’s free school meals voucher..

He continued: "We want to ensure that those children are still provided with this support, even if they are not in school at the moment. The safety and wellbeing of our families and children will always be the highest priority.

"I hope this partnership between the council and schools helps, even in just a small way, to ease the pressure.”

The arrangement is in place until the Government rolls out its intended national scheme to support children on free school meals.