A council's decision not to fund summer break food vouchers for children on free school meals has been called a "kick in the teeth" for struggling families.

Medway Council decided to stop giving out the vouchers, unless children attend free holiday activities throughout half term, where they would be served lunch.

Mother-of-one Claire from Rainham says she had been getting the vouchers every school holiday until now, and she would rather get them again than send her 12-year-old to the activities, which she would struggle to afford getting to anyway.

The 42-year-old says she had no idea she wouldn't be getting the vouchers this summer break, and therefore hadn't factored this into the family budget.

She said "I've not been notified that we weren't getting it.

"I've not received an email or anything from Medway Council or the school to say that these vouchers aren't coming out."

Claire, who is unemployed, said she had been allowing her daughter Ellen to spend £10 a week from the vouchers on her own snacks.

She explained: "She knows that the food's there and that's how we have worked it since these food vouchers have come into play, and that's how we do it every half term.

"She knows if money's tight; I get Job Seeker's Allowance and tax credits one week and then the following week I only have my tax credits.

"She knows when my short week is and that week, money goes purely on food. We don't have days out or anything.

"She's 12 and she's very savvy with money because that's how she's been brought up.

"Even before I became unemployed, I was very money conscious and tried to save. She's been brought up like that and she understands money.

"I've not made any provisions for not getting these vouchers. If we had been told, I would have been scrimping and saving where I could to get myself through the holidays."

The decision to stop providing the vouchers through the government's Housing Support Fund was made using the council leader's urgency powers in late April.

The council had been awarded £2.2 million to support residents with financial difficulties, including families and pesioners, and the support included supermarket and fuel vouchers.

A report on the decision reads: "As Medway is successfully running the Holidays and Food (HAF) programme, MedwayGo, there is no need to provide free school meal vouchers for every eligible child during the holidays.

"Vouchers could prohibit the take up of the HAF scheme. Therefore, it is proposed that the scheme covers only the holidays that are not covered by the HAF scheme."

Activities being offered this summer are aimed at children aged between five and 16 who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

They include dance, singing, skateboarding, crafting, and trampolining, however, many of the options on the MedwayGo website are now listed as sold out.

The council's website says children who are booked on to activities receive a "healthy nutritious meal, made to school food standards, ensuring children have a healthy balanced meal as they would during the school day."

But Claire said barely any of the options appeal to her youngster and the ones which do are sold out.

She is worried children will be left out if their parents can't afford travelling to the activities and she would like to see Medway Council follow the same path as Kent County Council (KCC) which has set up a free bus pass for children in school Years six to 13 over the half term.

She added: "There's nothing really for parents that are hard up that is enticing them to take their children to these activities.

"Okay, you can get a family ticket for £11, but that's still £11 they have got to find."

Claire added she has booked an activity being held at the Fenn Bell Inn at Hoo, but says this will mean getting two buses - because she doesn't drive - and paying for her own entrance fee.

Medway Labour Group said with around 10,000 children in the area eligible for free school meals, there simply aren't enough MedwayGo places to accommodate all of them.

Cllr Clive Johnson (Lab), shadow cabinet member for children and young people, has started a petition urging the council to reinstate the vouchers.

Cllr Joanne Howcroft-Scott (Lab), said: "This decision is truly shocking. When the Conservative’s cost of living crisis is really hitting Medway families hard, those who are in most need of help receive this kick in the teeth.

"We are talking about children who will go hungry over the summer.

"They have failed to tell parents too, and it is no wonder that they are keeping it quiet.

"This is completely unacceptable and the council needs urgently to change this decision and show some leadership in supporting Medway families."

Medway Council said as the funding from the Housing Support Fund was ringfenced for different groups of people in need, providing the vouchers over the summer break would have cost in excess of £1 million which was more than it has been granted by the government.

It added it had contacted schools with information about the Housing Support Fund and MedwayGo, and any child who is taking part in the activities can qualify for a free Arriva bus ticket.

Parents can register on the MedwayGo website, go.medway.gov.uk, book and their activities. For bus tickets, they should email go@medway.gov.uk with the number of children booked to attend activities, and for how many days, and the team will send the tickets.

The petition can be found here.