BY running a summer holiday programme of meals and activities for children, Feeding Birkenhead, Supporting Wirral is trying to do its bit to help families cover their living costs.

While running this programme, we have encountered another huge financial burden on families.

The costs of school uniforms and PE kits for the new term can total many hundreds of pounds.

In all too many cases, this money has to be deducted from families' food budgets or rent payments.

I am trying to gain action from the Government, in the form of statutory affordability policies, to bring some relief to these families.

But might I please issue a plea to local schools to strike as just a balance as possible when setting their uniform requirements?

Frank Field MP for Birkenhead.