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“Families in need of help” will get supermarket food vouchers during the Christmas school holiday, a council said.

Peterborough City Council will send £30 vouchers to eligible families by text and email from 17 December.

The authority urged families who may be entitled but have not yet signed up for the initiative to do so as soon as possible.

Katy Cole, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I’m delighted that once again we will be providing this worthwhile scheme over the Christmas break.”

The vouchers will be sent automatically to eligible families, using school data and information held by the council.

The eligible families are those who receive:

• Income-based free school meals
• Early years pupil premium
• Funded childcare and education for two-year-olds

Cole said: “We remain fully committed to supporting families in need of help.

“As always, I would strongly urge anyone who is eligible for the scheme but has not already signed up to please consider doing so as soon as possible.

“The free school meals scheme not only helps families save around £450 a year per child, but also helps their child’s primary school receive much-needed additional funding.”

The vouchers, which must be claimed by 21:00 GMT on 18 December, could be used at up to 10 supermarkets.

They must also be activated by 18 January; otherwise, they become invalid.