Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Eat Out to Help Out initiative has been used more than 35 million times in the first two weeks of August - according to the latest Treasury results.

The popular scheme allows people to eat out for half price throughout August.

But when does the 50 per cent off scheme end - and could the government extend the deal into September?

Here's the latest:

Sunak's initiative - which allows diners 50 per cent off their meals - had already proved to be hugely popular in Hitchin and up and down the country.

Many restaurants are seeing large numbers of customers snap up their mouth-watering half price food on offer between Mondays and Wednesdays.

Hitchin Nub News has spoken with a number of restaurants who have said they have had to turn punters away if they hadn't booked a table – such is the demand during the government backed scheme.

The initiative runs every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in August and you can use it as many times as you like without the need for vouchers.

When does the discount end?

The discount runs until the end of August, with the last day being Bank Holiday Monday, August 31.

Will the scheme be extended?

The Eat Out to Help Out scheme is not currently set to be extended beyond the end of next week.

There have been calls for the scheme to be extended but so far the government has resisted the option to push it into September and possibly beyond. Nor are there any plans to shrink the scheme to include Monday's only.

So, while the Treasury has said they 'keep all support schemes under review', here's the latest updated list of all Hitchin eateries that have signed up to the scheme as it heads into its final week.

The full list of Hitchin eateries in the town and surrounding areas participating in the scheme are as follows:

Coopers Arms

Grannello Lounge

Mint Leaf Hitchin

Molly's Tea Room

North Hertfordshire Museum Cafe

Taste Buds

Costa Coffee Hitchin

Paprika Spice Ltd

Regent Cottage Restaurant

Raj Douth Tandoori Cuisine

Fussey & Baer

Osinsky's

Casbah Grill Ltd

Starbucks

Hitchin Cafe

The Groundworks

Chia Naturally Healthy

Halsey's Deli & Eatery

Bar Azita

Bar Amigo

Deroka restaurant

Chilli B's

Four Leaf Clover

Kite at The Red Hart

Bosphorus Restaurant

Lussmanns

Los Reyes

Radcliffe Arms

Mevan Ocakbasi

Khushma Cottage

The Albert Inn

Bridge Street Bistro

The Old George, Ickleford

Plume of Feathers, Ickleford

1. 04 miles away

Hitchin Garden Centre

The Bull, Gosmore

Motte & Bailey, PIrton

Please note this list is subject to constant change as more businesses sign up.

If you are a restaurant or eatery that has joined the scheme please contact us at [email protected] to let us know, so we can update our details.