Public health bosses in Hertfordshire have launched a project to look at the levels and impact of 'food poverty' across the county.

Food poverty, say public health officials, can lead to excess weight and poorer physical health, as well as impacting on children's learning and social development.

And – in the wake of the Covid pandemic – it's an issue that has been highlighted nationally, in a campaign led by footballer Marcus Rashford.

The Manchester United and England striker has also earned a reputation as a social campaigner and his tireless work in ensuring underprivileged children do not go hungry has forced two government U-turns this year alone.

The 22-year-old forward also backed Hitchin Nub News' coverage of his campaign when he retweeted our story to his 3.8 million Twitter followers about Bancroft restaurant Chicken George offering free food during the school holidays.

Rashford's striving for social justice also inspired a Hitchin dad and his friends to embark on a daily charity run last month to boost funds for struggling families which Nub News also covered.

In light of Rashford's campaigning, over the next six months public health officials in Hertfordshire will to research the scale of food poverty in the county, as well as the ways that it affects people.

Hitchin MP Bim Afolami spoke to Nub News at length on the subject last month after Conservatives voted against allocating extra money to ensure children would not go hungry during school holidays, before the government climbdown.

Commenting on the change of direction after Rashford's campaign, Mr Afolami told Nub News: "I would rather be embarrassed about it and come to you and say: 'Look, we messed up on how we communicated it, and now we're changing it.' Rather than say, 'we're far too embarrassed to change it'."

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Recommendations drawn from food poverty studies will then be drawn up regarding measures that could be taken to prevent it, and to support those who face it.

The ongoing work was reported to a meeting of the county council's public health and prevention cabinet panel earlier this week, as part of an update on the council's obesity programme.

Health improvement lead Faith Eddleston told councillors that the Covid pandemic – and its economic impact – had put a spotlight on food poverty.

And – pointing to the increasing use of food banks – she suggested it was increasing locally.

Councillors were told that people in food poverty were less likely to be eating a healthy diet and were more likely to be in poorer health,

That could, said Ms Eddleston, include excess weight and dietary illnesses like type 2 diabetes – as well as poorer mental health.

And she said there was evidence that it had a negative impact on the learning and social development of young people, who may perform less well in school.

"We want to know and understand how many people food poverty is affecting and who is most at risk, and where and why," she told the panel.

"And [we want to know] what we can do to better support people those people or prevent them ending up in food poverty."

According to the report ,the 'needs assesment' will be complete in May (2021), then a report will be drawn up for the cabinet panel.

It will provide an insight into food poverty and how it affects people living in Hertfordshire.

And it will make recommendations about what can be done to support and prevent people from facing food poverty.

Commenting on the work, executive member for public health and prevention councillor Tim Hutchings said: "This is a extremely important subject.

"Its something we need to get to grips with. And from my perspective it's driven by a desire to understand not only the causes but how we best deal with it."

Councillor Hutchings said that he hoped it would put together a case that is built on facts rather than anecdotes.

Last month the council announced plans to distribute food vouchers to those eligible for free school meals during the Christmas school holidays with the vouchers due to be distributed through schools.