Make the most of great Blackpool Summer Savings

Today thousands of children across Blackpool South will spill out of the school gates for the last time this term – six weeks of summer stretching out ahead of them. For parents who have been slogging their way to the finish line alongside their kids, it’s a relief, but it’s also a challenge. Six weeks is a long time to keep the kids entertained and I know the cost of doing that is on a lot of minds right now.

That's why I'm pleased that, this summer, the government's Great British Summer Savings scheme is making it cheaper for families here to enjoy the town we love.

Until 1 September VAT has been slashed from 20% to 5% on children's meals in restaurants, on cinema and theatre tickets and on entry to our major attractions, soft play centres and more. It’s about making sure a day out doesn't have to break the bank and that local children get the same opportunities as tourists.

And to give our kids an even bigger chance of accessing all our town has to offer this summer, from 1 August every child aged five to 15 in England can travel free on local buses. In Blackpool South, that means around 14,800 children could benefit – no registration, no cost, just free travel all month. And with roughly 12,800 local families with dependent children set to feel the benefit of the VAT cut too, this is help that reaches right across our town.

Me and Luca outside number 10 (yes, we know the Chancellor lives at number 11!)

I recently took Luca Vettese, whose family has been making ice cream at Notarianni's on Waterloo Road for four generations, to Downing Street to tell the Chancellor directly what local businesses need. He was clear that measures like this matter and that we must keep backing hospitality and tourism, the industries that keep Blackpool ticking.

So as the school gates close on Friday, my message to families is simple – get out and enjoy our seafront, our attractions and our town, for less. Blackpool has always known how to give people a great day out. I hope you manage to make the most of it this summer.