A teenager has asked for support from Congleton's MP in his request for children eligible for free school meals to continue to receive them during the summer holidays.

Joe Davies, Congleton Constituency Labour Party's Youth Officer, said that there could be a knock-on effect to children's access to "nutritious" meals in families whose financial struggles have been exacerbated due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 16-year-old, who lives in Alsager, has written to MP Fiona Bruce asking her to bring his motion before Parliament, and to discuss the matter further with education secretary Gavin Williamson.

He also sent a similar letter to Labour Leader Keir Starmer, but he understands that a response may take a while.

However, he has also been in contact with the Shadow Education team, who he is more hopeful of getting a quick response from.

Joe, who was due to be sitting his GCSE exams at Alsager School, stated that he appreciated that he was in a position of privilege which meant he didn't need free school meals, but he stressed that it is vital to children's physical and mental development that they have a hot meal each day regardless of whether it was school term time or not.

Mr Davies said: "It's well known that disadvantaged families, who cannot pay for childcare due to their financial issues are going to suffer throughout the summer holidays if free meals aren't provided.

"This was an issue pre Covid-19, but things this summer could prove to be the most difficult yet for families if vital meals aren't delivered each day, at a time when there is no greater need.

"During the pandemic, we've seen headteachers deliver priceless free school meals to pupils that are entitled to them and to see the sheer joy on the children's faces when they are receiving these meals, shows the happiness and power these nutritious meals bring.

"These hot meals are life saving and there has been a big focus during this pandemic about the impact of mental health, having these meals available throughout the summer would be a massive boost for families, and be a massive financial weight off their shoulders."

Joe, who plans to go back to Alsager School's sixth form to study A-levels in politics, economics, maths and physics, said that when his school provided roast dinners on Wednesdays as a free school meal, he witnessed first how much of a positive impact they had.

Mr Davies added: "You can see children looking forward to these meals and that's what it's all about making sure they're having a nice nutritious filling meal."

Joe told Nub News that he felt it should prove quite "straightforward" in extending the meals throughout summer because schools will already have an established contract with catering companies.

Joe labelled the Government furlough scheme, which was paying up to 80% of employees' salaries during the lockdown as "priceless" for families, which enabled families to pay vital bills, keep their jobs and look after their children.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "As schools open more widely, and their kitchens reopen, we expect schools to make food parcels available for collection or delivery for any children that are eligible for free school meals who are not yet able to return to school. Where this is not possible, schools can continue to offer vouchers to eligible pupils.

"The national voucher scheme will not run during the summer holidays."

A nationwide petition has been lodged, calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to not abandon free school meals for £1.3m children during half-term and summer, and to commit to feeding them over the holidays.

You can sign the petition here.