70,000 children in the South West are living in poverty but can not get free school meals, recent research has revealed.

This is because of restrictive and outdated eligibility criteria, according to new analysis from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).

The charity is calling on the Government to reform the qualifying criteria and remove means-testing from the dining hall.

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They say this would ensure more children get the food they need and provide some relief for families struggling with rising costs.

Currently, only infants are guaranteed a free school meal in England.

Children in year three and above in households on universal credit only qualify if their family’s income is below £7,400 per year.

This threshold has not changed since 2018, despite rising inflation.

Kate Anstey, head of education at CPAG, said: "It’s hard to focus on your times tables when you’re hungry at school.

"But in every corner of the South West kids are going without the food they need because the qualifying threshold for free school meals is out of date and much too restrictive.

"But in every corner of the South West kids are going without the food they need because the qualifying threshold for free school meals is out of date and much too restrictive."