AS many as 13,000 poorer youngsters in the North-East and North Yorkshire are not claiming free school meals, according to figures.

The Liberal Democrats have claimed that many children are opting out because of the poor quality of food on offer in school canteens.

They have also expressed concern about the low value of the vouchers, which means pupils cannot afford healthier, but more expensive, foods.

A total of 7,750 secondary school children and 5,690 primary youngsters in the region fail to claim free lunches, according to the department for education.

Two out of every five secondary pupils in Middlesbrough opt out, with other local education authorities in the area not far behind.

Schools are accused of us-ing snack machines to make money, while neglecting the quality of cafeteria meals.

Phil Willis, LibDem education spokesman and Harrogate MP, said: "The whole point of free school meals is to provide the most needy children with a good nutritious meal, yet many would rather do without."

Children are eligible for free lunches if parents are on state benefits or low income.

An education spokesman defended the Government's record, saying it introduced the first minimum nutritional standards for 20 years.

And he insisted it was up to individual LEAs, not the Government, to ensure schools had sufficient funding to give their pupils a proper meal.

He said the department was working "to simplify and streamline the application process", to try to ensure children did not miss out.