Make Lunch Royston has been awarded a grant of £500 to help provide food for children during school holidays.

Thanks to the grant from North Herts Council's Royston and District Committee, Make Lunch Royston will offer two free meals a week for children who are eligible for free school meals.

The group also used the £500 to assist with the cost of taking 45 adults and 95 children who benefit from the free lunch initiative to watch a film at Royston Cinema during October half term.

Make Lunch Royston coordinator Louise Bradley said: "Make Lunch Royston is delighted to have been awarded £500 by the Royston Area Community Committee.

"Make Lunch Royston has been supporting local families for almost eight years. This year we have supported 30 families at our drop-in sessions by helping fill the holiday hunger gap with free meals and activities during the school holidays.

"We have seen first-hand the impact of the increasing cost of living is having on lower-income families in our town.

"We want to enable our families to have fun together and for the children to have experiences they can share with their friends when they go back to school after the holidays."

Make Lunch Royston is run by volunteers from local churches and the community at the Old Bull Inn. The group works alongside schools in Royston to make sure the families who need it the most get invited.

The kitchen is open two days a week every school holiday from midday to 1.30pm, including half term.

Speaking when the grant was awarded, Cllr Tony Hunter, chair of the Royston and District Committee, said: “Increases in the cost of living sadly means that activities such as going to the cinema are not possible for families who are already struggling to buy enough food for their children.

"We are delighted to be able to provide this grant so families can go and enjoy a film at the Royston Picture Palace during the school holidays.”

To find out more about Make Lunch Royston go to https://www.facebook.com/makelunchroyston.

To find out about North Herts Council's community grants, go to https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/community-grants.