Hundreds of Cumbrian parents are struggling to feed their children - with many forced to rely on food parcels during school holidays.

About 300 families have already signed up to a foodbank scheme to provide lunches for youngsters who usually receive free school meals, as a leading headteacher has revealed she regularly sees children return from school breaks undernourished.

Pauline Robertson, headteacher at Victoria Junior School in Workington, said: "While it doesn't apply to all our children, we do have some that come back and have lost weight or are not as nourished.

"Food for children is important; it's not only crucial, it's an entitlement.

"I think this is valuable, but a decent living wage is a better way to make sure children can eat.

"At the moment it's necessary to offer support but it shouldn't be the way it is."

Chris Steele, headteacher at Crosscanonby St John's Primary School, said it was sad that families were being forced to rely on the generosity of others just to make ends meet.

He added: "I think it's a great service and it's going to save a lot of families.

"It's great that they can have access to it and we do actually support the foodbank in school anyway so I think it's a very positive idea."

Pete Moran, from Cumbria Law Centre, which helps those struggling on low incomes, said the main reason the charity heard for people turning to foodbanks was administrative problems around benefits.

He added: "We make referrals to foodbanks virtually every day and many of our clients have an income which either doesn't meet the basic costs of being alive or does meet them but with no room for error.

"It's very hard to believe that in the fifth strongest economy in the world we should need this at all.

"Being employed isn't the same as moving out of poverty."

The North Lakes Foodbank will continue its Holiday LunchPacks 4 Kids scheme this year to provide families on the breadline in Allerdale and Copeland vital weekly food packs during the summer holidays.

Launched two years ago, the scheme feeds hundreds of children across west Cumbria.

Jessie Hendry Gooding, the foodbank's project manager, said: "Many children go back to school hungry after the holiday time; we hope to help this issue within Allerdale and Copeland.

"A six-week period of having to find funds to feed children can put extra pressure on families."

Local primary schools can offer the scheme to families whose children receive free school meals because they are in receipt of state benefit due to low income.

During the summer holidays, the absence of these meals puts an extra financial strain on families on a low income. The packs include tinned meat, vegetables, fruit and pasta.

Jessie said people who think they meet the criteria should contact their child’s primary school or call the foodbank on 07502311452.

BLOB. The foodbank is currently looking for tinned tomatoes, UHT milk (not skimmed), cereal 500g, tinned rice and sponge puddings and coffee.

Each month, 550 emergency food supplies are given to people in Allerdale and Copeland. The charity needs four tonnes of food a month donated to it, to enable them to help people in short term crisis across the community.

Jessie said people who think they meet the criteria should contact their child’s primary school or call the foodbank on 07502311452.

The North Lakes Foodbank has many collection points around Allerdale and Copeland, including most churches. For further information go to www.thefoodbank.org.uk