SCORES of children in the Lache area of Chester have been given free packed lunches as part of a community initiative to make sure families are fed during school holidays.

The consequences of the government decision not to give children a free lunchtime meal over the half term meant that Live Laugh Lache, the Chester social supermarket project, stepped in to provide free daily packed lunches for up to 100 Lache children.

The generosity of a local supermarket enabled local children to have a free a lunchtime packed lunch and even provided pencils and pens to give them activities to do during their week off.

David Alexander, who is the project’s collector/driver, said: "Tesco have been absolutely brilliant. They provided us enough food for sandwiches, crisps and fruit for 100 children and free giveaways from their stationery department every day.

"Rob, the Tesco community champion didn’t hesitate to step in. It goes to show that there is a real sense of community spirit which is understood by even the largest supermarket chains. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

Live Laugh Lache has gone from strength to strength since it opened in Cliveden Road, Lache in January.

The project believes that far too much UK food goes to waste in landfill. The volunteer-run shop opens twice a week on Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings and gives customers a bag full of food for £2.

There is often £15 - £20 worth of food in a bag so it represents a real saving.

David added: "You can’t always be sure of what there will be available, but that’s part of the enjoyment – making meals with what is there.

"And we take all our waste to a local anaerobic digester where it is converted to electricity and compost, so we have a zero to landfill policy."

Live Laugh Lache’s shop ‘The Larder’ is at 76 Cliveden Road, Lache, Chester.