EAT Out to Help Out has been a huge success in Maldon, with more than 139,000 meals dished up under the scheme.

Latest figures show the scale of the benefit to the 110 restaurants, cafes, pubs and coffee houses which took part in the government initiative within the Maldon constituency.

The total discount for Maldon diner was a whopping £853,000 with an average of £6.16 saved per meal. Data from OpenTable shows that nationally 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.

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.

Maldon MP John Whittingdale said: "I am delighted with the level of support people in Maldon have provided to our brilliant restaurants and hospitality businesses. It is great that after months of lockdown they are now operating again and that this scheme has helped them get back on their feet. Like many others, I enjoy eating out in some of our fantastic local pubs and restaurants and am delighted that so many took advantage of the Government's scheme.

"Eat Out to Help Out was always about far more than just giving people money off their meals – it was about protecting jobs which are reliant on businesses which have really struggled through coronavirus.

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