MORE Shropshire pupils are receiving free school meals than ever before, figures show, as campaigners argue the Government should widen the eligibility criteria amidst the cost-of-living crisis.

And the Labour party claims that working families nationwide are suffering while the Government is distracted by the Conservative leadership election.

Department for Education figures show 6,598 children in Shropshire were eligible for free school meals in January – 16.6 per cent of all state school pupils in the area.

This was up from 15.3 per cent the year before, and the highest proportion since comparable records began in 2015-16.

In state funded special schools, the rate was 41 per cent in 2021-22 – the highest of all types of state education which had at least 100 pupils.

This was compared to 15.3 per cent in secondary schools.

Across England, 22.5 per cent of pupils (around 1.9 million children) are currently eligible for free school meals – up from 20.8 per cent, and also a record high.

This varied between just nine per cent in Wokingham, in the South East, but rose as high as 41.1 per cent in Islington, in London.

A Government spokeswoman said it is providing more than £37 billion to help families with rising costs, and will continue to keep eligibility under review.