An ex-soldier has launched a free school meals campaign as he calls for a "guaranteed" rollout of vouchers to Kent pupils during the Christmas holidays.

Mike Tapp, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq for five years, says the county should be "leading from the front" and setting an example for the rest of the UK.

This comes 48 hours after Kent County Council (KCC) stepped in to offer vital help to families, prompted by public fury over a decision by the government not to extend free school meals provision for pupils in October half-term.

This week, KCC's Conservative leader Cllr Roger Gough (Con) launched a helpline service for struggling parents in need of support, offering a £15 supermarket voucher for each child.

"I hope this service will quickly provide families with the help they need and ensure that no child in Kent is left to go hungry," said Cllr Gough on Tuesday.

Despite this, pressure has been put on KCC to take further decisive action. Mr Tapp sent an e-petition to Maidstone County Hall's office on Tuesday and needs 10,000 signatures so the issue can be debated at KCC's 81 elected members at full council.

The 35-year-old from Tunbridge Wells has described KCC's voucher scheme as a "massive step in the right direction" but also called it a "bit of a cop out".

Mr Tapp, who worked for the Ministry of Defence and National Crime Agency in the last decade, said: "We are worried that local parents will have no idea this scheme is available.

"A lot are struggling with the internet or working two jobs and some cannot afford to have the internet.

"Other parents may not approach the voucher service at all, even though they may be in the care of vulnerable children who need support."

More than 50,000 children in Kent are living in relative low income families, according to a child poverty study carried out by KCC two months ago.

The study has found that the number has increased by 32% over the last five years. Concerns have been raised that Covid-19 has exacerbated this issue.

"It's important that no child needing food misses out," Mr Tapp told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The Tunbridge Wells Labour party member said: "The only way to guarantee children do not go hungry is by issuing the voucher to all those that currently receive free school meals, regardless of whether the parents make contact."

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson's government has defended its record and says it has supported families with a Universal Credit increase of £20 a week and given £63m to councils for people struggling to afford food and essentials.

However, Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford, 22, has led the national charge to end child food poverty across England and his online petition has surpassed one million signatures.

In Kent, Maidstone County Hall chiefs intervened to provide financial support for families who desperately need it during the October half-term.

In response to the e-petition, a KCC spokesman said: "We know some families are in urgent need of support and would like to reassure everyone who has applied for a voucher that we are doing everything we can to process claims as quickly as we possibly can."

"Every application has to be validated to check that families are eligible to receive financial support, and our staff are working around the clock to ensure vouchers are issued urgently to those that need them."

The e-petition will run until December 6. It can be signed here.

Anyone eligible for free school meals who needs additional financial support to help feed their children can call the dedicated helpline on 03000 41 24 24 or click here.

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