A kind woman is delivering free packed lunches to families struggling to feed their children over the summer holidays.

Fiona Ward, from Newchurch, has started a delivery service from her home to help out pupils who rely on schools for lunch.

In February, the Rossendale mum launched catering service Let’s Graze to provide her friends and families with cheese and meat boards.

Fiona, who works for an engineering company, was inspired to provide packed lunches for free as she realised school dinners may be the only proper meal some pupils have in a day.

The 29-year-old said: “I decided to start doing this because a lot of people are struggling at the moment and some families might not be able to afford to buy food over the summer.

"At the moment, we have 40 children on the list just within Rossendale.

“It’s all confidential, I don’t ask any questions and I’ll deliver the meals straight to your door, or if people prefer to pick up that’s also fine. The meals are delivered every week, Monday to Friday.”

Each morning, Fiona prepares the lunches which include a ham, cheese, or tuna sandwich, a portion of fruit and vegetables, a yoghurt, crisps and biscuits.

Her eight-year-old daughter Isobella-Grace helps Fiona prepare the lunches.

She said: “It’s like a production line in the kitchen. My daughter fully understands that not everyone is as fortunate as she is to have a proper meal all the time so she wants to help. She’s got her hands stuck in and is asking how else she can help.”

Fiona was funding all the food herself and delivering the meals to houses at the beginning of the free packed lunch scheme.

As more people signed up, she reached out to the community for donations and has received an overwhelming amount of help.

Fiona said: “The donations have been out of this world. I’ve even got people offering to deliver these lunches now. The response from people in the community has been unbelievable and I’m so grateful people want to help.”

Fiona has arranged a meeting with Rossendale councillor Samara Barnes to discuss how she can continue helping families in the community after the summer holidays end.

She said: “I’m hoping to make it a regular thing through half terms and hopefully set up a charity in the near future, so pupils can have somewhere to have lunch and mingle with other children like a youth club because there’s just nothing for children to do anymore.”

To sign up for free packed lunches or to donate or volunteer, message Fiona on Let’s Graze Facebook or email letsgrazeevents@gmail.com.