Crewe and Nantwich MP Dr Kieran Mullan this week visited Crewe soft play centre Funsters to hear about their participation in the government's holiday activities programme.

Funsters is a family business on Stalbridge Road in Crewe that was encouraged to join the government scheme this summer by the MP.

The scheme offers free food and free activities to children during August who receive benefit related Free School Meals during term time.

The scheme was run on a pilot basis originally but in November last year it was announced it would be funded for wider national rollout.

The first sessions launched during the Easter holidays and there will be another programme of activities during the Christmas holidays later this year.

Dr Mullan spoke to parents who brought their children to take part and also saw how the soft play centre has adapted well to the pandemic with new cleaning regimes and an online booking system to manage numbers.

Speaking after the visit, Mr Mullan said: "I wanted to make sure the options for local families included as many different activities as possible over the summer and covered the kinds of things all different families like to do during the holidays.

"This programme helps take the pressure off families who are most in need and ensures their children get to enjoy the same kinds of things as their classmates whatever their home circumstances."

Funsters Managing Director Kay Tran said: "We have been very happy to welcome children and families to our centre as part of this programme.

"We love seeing children active and helping families under financial pressure to ensure they can enjoy their holidays and it has been really rewarding.

"We hope as many children as possible can join us and thanks to Kieran for encouraging us to take part."