Hundreds of pupils in Swindon have lost their free school meals over the past five years.

Campaigners say it is because of changes to eligibility rules for benefits.

Newly-released figures from the Department for Education show that 114 fewer children in Swindon’s state primaries and secondaries were receiving free school meals in January this year than in 2013, despite the school population growing overall.

The decrease was most marked in nurseries and primary schools where in five years, the proportion of youngsters eating free school meals has dropped 13.2 per cent to 11.1 per cent.

This means potentially 547 pupils are missing out on free school meals and campaigners have warned there’s a risk of children missing their one hot meal of the day.

Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action group said: “At a time when more children are growing up in poverty, fewer are getting the help they need with free school meals.

“Out of a class of 30 kids, nine are growing up in poverty and six have working parents.

“When parents earn just above the threshold for a free meal children they are at risk of losing what might be their only hot balanced meal of the day.

“School meals should be free for all as an important part of the school day. We don’t see patients in hospital being means-tested before they are given a meal.

“At the very least, the rules must be changed so that all families entitled to Universal Credit get free school meals, including many working families.”

Education minister Nadim Zahawi, said the government would ensure the pupils most at need would continue to receive free meals at school: “It is right that we must continue to offer the most disadvantaged young people additional help and I am pleased that, following public consultations, we can extend free school meals and the free early education entitlement for disadvantaged two-year-olds.

“Tens of thousands more children will be entitled to free school meals by 2022 compared to the previous benefits system.”