BASILDON councillors have voted to plough £30,000 into a groundbreaking scheme to feed children entitled to free school meals during EVERY school holiday. 

Families will be given vouchers for free school meals across the summer, Christmas, and Easter holidays, council bosses have confirmed.

Councillors approved the scheme last night, which will come into affect later this year.

The project will be funded by £30,000 saved from councillors allowances, after the council "slimmed down" their committees and processes last year.

It is not yet known whether half term breaks will be included in the scheme.

This comes as the Government reverted their original decision not to offer free school meals this summer after pressure from Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford.

Kerry Smith, deputy leader at Basildon Council, praised the Government for its u-turn yesterday.

The deputy leader said: "Our children will no longer go hungry. It's excellent news.

"It's a good use of the money saved from allowances."

Basildon Council is also reportedly investigating the possibility of introducing educational schemes across all school holidays too, to benefit those who are "disadvantaged across the borough", a source said.

This heavily relies on how the council recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, the source added.

Basildon Council was contacted for comment.