Devon County Hall could give Mr Bumble, the workhouse beadle from Oliver Twist, a run for his money after trying to pretend it had made a U-turn to tackle holiday hunger across Devon.

County Hall announced on Monday that there really was cash, after all, for meals during the holiday for those children receiving free school meals. But checking the detail, it becomes clear it is 'old money' being re-packaged, says Cllr Alan Connett, Liberal Democrat opposition leader at Devon County.

Devon County Council should reverse its 'mean minded' refusal to provide free school meals during the holidays, say Devon's Liberal Democrats.

"The impact of the lockdown and Covid19 on many families across the County is not of their making and money is increasingly tight, especially for those affected by reduced hours, lost jobs, or furlough arrangements," said Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Alan Connett.

Only one of Devon's Conservative MPs voted on Wednesday to extend free school meals over half term and the Christmas holiday.

Anne-Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot, was the only Conservative who supported an Opposition Day motion from Labour to extend free school meals to children from lower-income families until Easter.