ONLY half of the Colchester families eligible for free food vouchers are claiming them, it has been revealed.

England footballer Marcus Rashford has called on health bosses to boost awareness of the Healthy Start scheme, which helps pregnant women and struggling families with young children to buy basic food.

NHS data shows - in the four weeks to July 18 - 820 people in Colchester were getting vouchers from the scheme.

They are worth between £4.25 and £8.50 a week and can be used to spend on healthy fruit and vegetables, milk or baby formula.

However, they represent just 52 per cent of those identified as eligible for the benefit, with the figures showing there may be another 745 families in the area missing out on valuable support.

Mike Beckett, from Colchester Foodbank, said a third of people who use the foodbank are children.

He said: “One of the main things we do at the foodbank is signpost people on as Healthy Start can help.

“I think policy is great in theory but rolling it out in patches takes time.

“However, I think we are making progress and anything to spread awareness can make a difference.”

In a letter published in the British Medical Journal, Mr Rashford urged health professionals to spread the word about the scheme as 40 per cent of those eligible for vouchers are still not registered for the scheme.

The letter said: “The scheme has proven benefits in improving access to healthy food for pregnant women and children under the age of four.

“More than 40 per cent of those eligible for the vouchers are still not registered for the scheme and I’m confident that the majority of these parents can be found in communities just like mine, where I grew up – no internet, no high street, no word of mouth.

“No child deserves to be starting life 20 yards behind any other from the day they are born, just because of where they are born and the circumstances they are born into.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said an online application form is being developed as an alternative to the current postal system and will be introduced along with a payment card to replace paper vouchers.