THERE is a risk that Fife Council budget pressures could scupper a successful holiday play scheme for kids in the Cowdenbeath area.

This summer's service cost £18,228 and ensured children could access regular meals during the schools' six week break.

It also helped reduce the impact on the local foodbank and supported families who may be in need.

It was a big hit with parents and kids but a report to the Cowdenbeath area committee warns: "There is a risk that there will be insufficient resources available at a local level to sustain the delivery of successful projects of this nature in future years."

The Cowdenbeath Area Holiday Play Schemes began in 2015 and were extended this summer, with play schemes at three primary schools, Cowdenbeath, Cardenden and St Kenneth's, in Ballingry.

They provided places for 61 children for three days a week over the six weeks of the school holidays.

A Fife Council report said the cost was picked up by the area's anti-poverty fund and the play schemes delivered by fully qualified Fife Childcare Services creche and out of school care staff.

Helped by Baynes the Bakers and FareShare, it meant that food costs were "significantly reduced" from the previous year and children were given a family food pack to take home at the end of each day.

The report, which will go to the committee, said: "There is no doubt that the scheme is well received and provides valuable support to families in need.

"Notwithstanding that, there are other ways that could be considered to address this need.

"Other areas of Fife and other parts of Scotland have run different models and there is a need to learn from those."

A bid for finance has also been made to the Scottish Government's Activating Ideas fund.