FAMILIES in Bradford are reaping the benefits of a new free school meals policy, according to an MP.

David Ward said thousands of families had seen improvements in their children's health, and their bank balances, since free meals were introduced for all five- to seven-year-olds in September.

The Bradford East Liberal Democrat MP will be visiting some of the pupils who have benefited during national free school meals week, which starts today.

But Bradford Council's schools boss, Labour's Councillor Ralph Berry, pointed out the disruption the plan had caused within schools, saying the coalition Government had written the plan "on the back of a fag packet".

Before the Lib Dem policy kicked in this school year, only families on benefits or classed as being in poverty were given free school meals.

That has now been expanded to all children in reception and years one and two, meaning there are an extra 7,250 free meals served to pupils every day.

Mr Ward, who sits on the education select committee, said: "This is a great way of making sure all children from deprived backgrounds, not just those who were already on free school meals, get a good hot meal five times a week.

"I've spoke to schools and they have said there has been a 23 per cent increase in the number of children eating vegetables at lunch time because of the policy. That also means they aren't just consuming crisps at lunch."

Cllr Berry, executive member for children's services at the Council, said while he all in favour of improving children's nutrition levels, the policy's introduction had been ill-thought through.

He said the district's schools were "just about there" in terms of building the necessary kitchen facilities, but many now had to have 90-minute lunch breaks to dish up all the meals, which had a knock-on effect on the length of the school day.

He said: "I have a huge respect for Bradford Council officers and the headteachers for making this work.

"David Ward should be thanking them for the huge pressure that has been put on them to achieve this showpiece project that Nick Clegg got out of this coalition."