Thousands of children from poorer families across the district are missing out on free school meals every day, according to Government figures.

The Department for Education and Skills has revealed 4,042 secondary school pupils are not getting the dinners they are entitled to.

And for some it could be their main meal of the day.

Estimated figures for 2006 released to Parliament by Schools Minister Jim Knight show that in Bradford 8,170 pupils are known to be eligible for free dinners, but only 5,804 claim them.

That means only 16.9 per cent of the number of pupils on school rolls across Bradford are receiving free meals when 23.8 per cent should.

In Kirklees 1,174 children of the 4,174 children eligible are missing out - 15.7 per cent of school children in the area should receive them but only 11.3 per cent do.

Calderdale provides 1,916 free school meals for children - the equivalent of 12.3 per cent of the number of children enrolled - but only 1,414 children, 9.1 per cent, claim them. This means every day 886 pupils are going without what they are entitled to.

The problem, which has been a national one for many years, has started to improve in the district during the past decade. The figures showed in 1997 of the 21,491 pupils eligible for free school meals, 14,859 received them.

Council bosses are anxious that parents check to see if their children are eligible and accept the service available.

Earlier this year Bradford Council's Benefits Service, which administers free school meals, produced new leaflets and posters for the district's schools as part of a drive to encourage the take-up.

David Fraser, the Council's head of benefits, said: "One of our main priorities is to encourage as many people as possible to claim benefits they are entitled to."

Nationally, it is estimated that one in five pupils who are entitled to free school meals fail to take up the offer and the figures are proof thousands of families in the area could receive the extra help.

Anthony Mugan, head of the Council's education client team, said: "A healthy diet results in healthy children and also helps them perform better in school, and we don't want pupils who are entitled to miss out."

To qualify parents must be receiving benefits, such as Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance, or be getting support from the National Asylum Support Services.

The child must also attend a Council school or nursery on a full-time basis.

For more details telephone the Benefits Service's helpline on (01274) 432772, or visit www.bradford.gov.uk/benefits e-mail: newsdesk@bradford.newsquest.co.uk