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Marcia Lewis, principal officer for catering in the borough, said the ‘huge logistics task’ involved delivering 1,600 meals a day by 12 noon to all school pupils at home who would normally receive free school meals.

Using up to 54 delivery vehicles and a mix of council staff from various parts of the workforce, together with local volunteers, the team was providing food packages that consisted of bread, milk, dessert, packed meals and either a salad or fresh vegetables box.

She said that over the course of Tuesday to Thursday each week the system was able to feed 4,500 pupils, with new applications for free school meals coming in at the rate of up to 50 a day.

Regular school food suppliers Castell Howell Foods (ready meals), WR Bishop (fruit and vegetables) and Woosnam Dairies (milk) have joined the delivery task force, along with Caerphilly Adventures, part of the council’s outdoor activities provision, to all become part of the meals delivery effort.