UNION members in Keighley have demanded government action to stop the children going hungry this summer.

Keighley Trades Union Council have highlighted fears of many teachers that pupils would return to school in September hungry.

The concerns were raised when the TUC met online this month to discuss the reopening of Keighley schools after the summer break.

TUC spokesman Janet Morgan describe the food poverty faced by some local youngsters as “truly shocking”.

She said: “If children are returning to school hungry, it will be extremely difficult for them to concentrate and some will fall behind in their education.

“This has been exacerbated already with many children not having access to online schooling. Yet another failure of a government promising every child will have a laptop but not providing councils with the money to supply them.”

“Our MP Robbie Moore needs to insist his government ensures funding is available for those in need as 33% of pupils will see school funding fail them.

“Class sizes will rise and school buildings will crumble unless the government acts now and provides this much needed funding.”

“Universal Credits with its five-week waiting time, sanctions and punitive measures is ineffective and unjust and will lead to children going hungry during the waiting time.”