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Thousands of parents will receive free fruit and veg vouchers in a bid to boost the diet of the poorest children.

The Department of Health initiative is part of a drive to encourage lifelong healthy eating habits and tackle obesity. Last week doctors revealed nearly one in ten children aged between two and four were obese.

The vouchers are part of the Welfare Food Scheme (WFS) which supports some of the poorest pregnant women and families. Currently, parents eligible for the scheme only receive tokens for liquid milk and infant formula milk. The tokens will be replaced with weekly vouchers that can be used to buy fresh produce as well as milk.

Low income families will qualify for the vouchers worth  at least £2.80 per week to families with children aged over one and at least £5.60 per week for families with children aged between 0 and one year old.

All pregnant women under the age of 18 will also be eligible for the scheme, regardless of family income. The changes will be phased in from the end of the year.