More than 74,000 meals were claimed in Rutland and Melton under the Government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme, according to the latest statistics.

Rutland and Melton's 130 participating hospitality outlets were able to offer Government-funded discounts totalling £486,000 to residents.

More than 100 million meals were claimed across the UK under the scheme which ran throughout August.

This means almost every resident of Rutland and Melton enjoyed a meal out on the Government's scheme and each of our 130 participating restaurants, cafes and pubs served almost 570 meals in August!

Rutland and Melton MP Alicia Kearns has hailed the success of the scheme which was designed to support the hospitality industry after the challenges of COVID-19. .

The scheme is credited with protecting 1.8 million jobs across the country, with restaurant bookings significantly up on the previous year.

Data from OpenTable shows bookings increased by an average of 52 per cent on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the whole of August, compared to the same days in 2019.

Mrs Kearns, said: ""Today's figures continue to show the Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been a success. I wish to thank everyone from restaurant owners, to waiters, chefs and diners for taking part in our economic recovery.

"I have no doubt that there are businesses in Rutland and Melton today which, without this brilliant scheme, may not have made it through the summer. I hope local people will continue to support them in the months ahead."

The MP added Eat Out to Help Out was just one part of the Conservative Government's Plan for Jobs – an ambitious £30 billion strategy to create, protect and support jobs as the country bounces back from coronavirus.

The Government will continue to support the hospitality industry with a temporary discount to VAT, from 20 per cent to 5 per cent, until 12 January 2021.