A subsidised meal delivery service for the elderly and vulnerable will be extended through the winter thanks to lottery funding.

Chequers Kitchen Cookery School has cooked and delivered over 7000 meals from March to the end of October to homes in Deal , Walmer, Kingsdown, Betteshanger, Northbourne and Sandwich .

The new funding means the venture, run by community interest company Cinque Ports Community Kitchen, can continue serving up and delivering food until the end of March.

The cost of meals is subsidised by a lottery Reaching Communities grant, making it possible to send a nutritionally balanced main meal and dessert for £4 with no delivery charge.

Alongside a core Chequers Kitchen staff, a team of volunteers helps prepare and deliver the meals.

The kitchen usually helps the community by putting on classes teaching people to cook healthy meals on a budget and from scratch to improve finances and health.

Director Stephanie Hayman said: “We are very happy to send meals to customers who would benefit from a nutritious tasty meal.

"If our service can help, either by becoming a main source of good nutrition, or as a way of taking pressure off carers and family members once or twice a week, we are delighted to be able to help. "During the lockdown period we supplied up to 100 meals a day and we currently have capacity to take on new customers.”

Head Chef Pieter van Zyl said: “It is a great pleasure to cook for people who struggle to cook for themselves because of old age, frailty or poor health. Our funders, the National Lottery Community Fund, as well as Deal Town Council and Dover District Council, have been a great support throughout these unusual times.”

New and existing customers can order by calling 01304 362288 or email info@chequers.kitchen.

It comes as many individuals and businesses have stepped forward to offer free meals for kids this half term amid the school dinners row. To see who's doing this, click here .

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