RESTAURANTS, cafes and pubs across Inverclyde claimed almost £400,000 through the government's month-long 'eat out to help out' scheme.

A total of 47 Inverclyde establishments took part and had claimed the UK Government subsidy by the end of September, according to latest HMRC figures.

The popular scheme, which ran throughout August, aimed to draw in diners to the hospitality venues that had been shut during the first coronavirus lockdown.

Diners could cash in on a half-price discount, up to a maximum of £10 per head, on food and non-alcoholic drinks from Mondays to Wednesdays throughout the month.

It proved a huge success, with diners flocking to local venues to enjoy a meal.

According to official figures for the area, a total of 77,000 discounted meals were recorded over the four-week run of the policy championed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

On average, each participating restaurant in the local authority claimed £8,100 from HRMC during the busy spell which aimed to get the hospitality industry back on its feet.

Diners in Inverclyde who took advantage of the offer saved on average £4.96 per meal.

The scheme was so successful that many local restaurants continued it into September, albeit while having to self-subsidise it.

As a result of its popularity, nationally the scheme cost the Treasury more than the £500m set aside for it in the government's July budget.

The £849m programme proved controversial in light of worsening Covid-19 infection figures which followed it in some areas.

However the Chancellor has defended his decision to introduce the scheme.

Mr Sunak said it had taken 400,000 workers across the UK off furlough and protected two million jobs in the hospitality industry.