Hundreds more parents are claiming for free school meals in Waltham Forest and Redbridge since 2011.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week found some 4,087 pupils in Redbridge are receiving free school meals compared to 3,240 when the last census was taken.

There has also been a rise in numbers claiming free meals in Waltham Forest, up to 2,475 from 2,064 six years ago.

Redbridge has the fourth-highest percentage of students getting free school meals of all outer London boroughs at 16.1 per cent. Waltham Forest is sixth on the list with 15.6 per cent.

Barking and Dagenham was the borough with the largest proportion of children on free school meals at 17.3 per cent.

Kingston upon Thames came bottom of the table, with just 6.3 per cent of pupils at school in the borough receiving free meals.

Parents can claim free meals for children at secondary school in a variety of circumstances, including if they are on Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support or Universal Credit.

The figures did not covered children at infants schools, were all pupils are currently illegible for free meals regardless of their family income.