More than 42,000 meals were claimed in Mansfield under the Government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme, according to the latest statistics.

In total, more than 100 million meals were claimed across the UK under the scheme, which ran throughout August. In total, 84,700 establishments signed up to the scheme, including 54 in Mansfield and Warsop.

Both local MP Ben Bradley and Chancellor Rishi Sunak hailed the success of the scheme, which was designed to support the hospitality industry after a challenging few months because of coronavirus.

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.

Ben said: “Eat Out to Help Out was always about far more than just giving people money off their meals – it was about protecting jobs that are reliant on businesses which have really struggled through coronavirus. I am delighted local people have supported our brilliant restaurants and hospitality businesses in such large numbers.

“I have no doubt that there are businesses in Mansfield and Warsop 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.”