Cafe owner trying to help families over holidays

Dug Gribbin said he wanted to help because he had financially struggled himself in the past

A cafe owner trying to help financially struggling families during the summer holidays says he has so far served hundreds of £1 children's meals.

Dug Gribbin, who took over Big D’s Diner in Middlesbrough earlier this month, said he wanted to do something to help his community with his new business.

He said: "Everybody knows how desperate things are now, people are struggling, and kids don't know you only spend a pound when you come here."

Mother-of-three Nicole Wheatley said the cheap meals had been "useful" as the summer holidays were expensive.

Ms Wheatley added: "They always want to do something, they’re always wanting something to eat, so it does help."

Big D’s Diner has been serving hot and hearty meals, like chicken parmos, fish fingers, chips and beans, and lasagne, to children for £1, without the requirement to purchase an adult meal at the same time.

Ms Wheatley said the cheap meals had been useful for her children

At the rate he is going, Mr Gribbin thinks he will serve more than 1,000 meals by the time school starts back again.

He wanted to help because he had been through hardships himself.

He reckoned some families could have gone hungry without a scheme like this.

"We’re not making any money from this," Mr Gribbin said. "It’s the world we live in now, parents are thankful".

Dad Steve Pell said food bills had "gone through the roof"

Father-of-four Steve Pell said he had been helped "tremendously" by the scheme as "every penny counts" during the school holidays.

"I think it’s helping out a lot because, around here, there's a lot of poverty," he said.

"Money's tight, isn’t it? It just helps out."

His daughter Lily said her meal was "really delicious".

She added: "We haven't gone out too much, but when we come here it’s really, really nice."