PRUDHOE town councillors have spoken of their disappointment at the fact that a programme of summer activities for youngsters was not as well received as it was last year.

At the council’s December meeting, councillors admitted that they may have to look at how the ‘42 Days of Summer’ funding is delivered again in the future, after a report found it was not as successfully executed or taken up

A report into the scheme found that less than half the number of young people took part in 2019 compared to 2018, although more money was spent. It suggested having clearer aims if repeated next year.

The scheme, which sees the council fund free activities and meals for children throughout the summer, has operated in each of the last two summers.

The scheme was launched in response to holiday hunger, and to help young people who may not have opportunities presented to them.

The town’s mayor, Coun, Tracy Gilmore, said: “I don’t think it captured what we were trying to do. A lot of the groups were taking the same children. It was meant to be different children on each trip.

“I didn’t get the positive feedback from parents like last year – if anything, we had some negative feedback. We need to thrash it out in a smaller group and bring it back to full council and see what works and what doesn’t.”