FREE breakfast is to be offered to all secondary school pupils across North Ayrshire from Monday November 4.

It comes as North Ayrshire Council launched their 'winter warmer breakfast initiative' which will run until Friday, March 28 next year.

As part of the programme, all secondary schools will be offering pupils either a hot roll or two of a fruit pot, a croissant, a cheese scone, a pancake or toast.

It is hoped the warm breakfasts will take some of the pressure off families when the cost of living bites hardest.

Councillor Shaun Macaulay, cabinet member for education and young people, welcomed the commencement of the initiative.

He said: “As a council, we are fully committed to ensuring children and young people have the best start in life, building a fair and equal society for all.

“The warm breakfasts are another small step we can take to help families most in need across the region.

“As the Cost-of-Living crisis continues to put pressure on families, child poverty is more prominent than ever, so we recognise that we need to do all that we can to alleviate the stress for families.

“A big thanks to our catering staff who have helped provide these warm breakfasts when the young people need it the most.”