Council coffers will come under further pressure by its decision to fund free school meals over the holidays after the government refused, the town hall's education chief has said.

Cllr Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Youth Services, said the funding would not affect current council services but it would put further pressure on council budgets.

He called on the government to rethink its policy on school meals. Prime minister Boris Johnson this week insisted that councils had already been given cash for free school meals.

Cllr Bruce said: "It was incredibly disappointing that the government chose not to support children and young people who may be going hungry this half-term.

"We have stepped in and will be funding the provision of free school meals for children over this half-term.

"We made this decision because we recognise how challenging these times are for some of our most economically-disadvantaged families and children, with loss of income and a volatile jobs market placing pressure on parents.

"No child should go hungry and this is why we are extending the provision of meals into the holiday period.

"Although current council services will not be impacted or diminished to support the resourcing of free school meals, the government's decision not to directly fund this will obviously put further pressure on councils' budgets.

"Prudent financial management is one of the key strengths of Hounslow Council, but the ability of a local authority to pay should not determine whether children go hungry during a school holiday during a global pandemic.

"All parents/carers who are entitled to Free School Meals will retrospectively receive their vouchers after half term. Some families who needed vouchers immediately have now been given their vouchers.

"Some of our schools are opting to provide packed lunches themselves or are providing their own vouchers, and in this situation the school in question will advise participants on how to obtain the packed lunches or vouchers.

The council has also pledged to fund free school meals over the Christmas holiday period.

For more information on free school meals,