AN assistant head teacher will be creating around 200 packed lunches a day for children across the borough this Christmas.

Louisa Blake, who works at Heygarth School began ‘Looby Lou’s Lovely Lunches’ after noticing some of her pupils' behaviour changed before the holidays due to the fact they may not have a regular meal each day.

During any school holiday parents face having to buy lunch for their children who typically receive a hot meal five days a week as part of free school meals.

This summer Louisa provided 5,500 lunches to families in areas such as Eastham, West Kirby, Tranmere, Prenton and Wallasey.

This will be Louisa's second Christmas providing packed lunches to children of school ages across Wirral and she will even be creating an extra-special Christmas Eve box.

Louisa told the Globe: "This is the second Christmas doing Looby Lou's. Last year I was making up to 200 lunches, five days a week.

"Now I deliver to 100 to 250 a day to homes across Wirral and I've definitely seen an increase in families coming forward.

"Everyone struggles around Christmas but since Universal Credit has come into play, the demand has soared.

"I don't want to come across as condescending as everyone tries to be the best parent they can, I just offer a bit of respite for the families who find themselves having to provide lunches during school breaks when they wouldn't usually.

"From the ages of four to seven, regardless of income, children receive free school meals.

"Looby Lou's has grown into a community minded project and I enjoy doing it.

"This year I will be creating Christmas Eve boxes for the children with selection boxes and some festive sparkle.

"I just give people a little bit of extra help, it's very much in need and parents often drop in donations if they have been helped before as a way of giving back.

"Just £1 would provide one lunch per day, any cash donations will go towards making the lunches and petrol costs. People can also donate food so that I can put the lunches together.

"After Christmas, I will work towards providing lunches for next year's school breaks such as Easter and summer. Any donations anyone can spare, I would be very grateful."

Looby Lou's Lovely Lunches is always looking for donations and are needing items such as crisps, individually wrapped chocolate biscuits, drinks, sandwich fillings such as chicken, ham, tuna or jam and fruit.

If you cannot donate food then you can donate cash via Paypal to pamblake12@gmail.com

For more information about Looby Lou's Lovely Lunches visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/456307751385687/