Half a million children ‘face holiday hunger’ if £1bn crisis fund is ditched

Exclusive: Charities say ending household support fund in England will increase hardship for struggling families

More than half a million children will go hungry during school holiday periods from the October half-term if the government fails to renew a 1bn local welfare crisis fund due to end in six weeks' time, charities have warned.

English councils last year spent 370m from their household support fund (HSF) allocations on holiday food vouchers for pupils on free school meals (FSM) - but more than a quarter of authorities say this support could disappear if the fund is ditched.