DEBT-COUNSELLING charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is offering tips on how to keep children entertained for less during the summer break.

CAP, in partnership with the Harvest Church at Alton Maltings has helped more than 100 people in the town and surrounding villages over the last three years.

Debt centre manager Mark Rumsby said: “When we see families who have little or no money, it’s often the children who miss out. The last thing on the mind of their parents is a day out, because there is a general misconception that this costs lots of money. That isn’t true.”

Here are CAP’s top tips to keep children entertained this summer without breaking the bank:

• Kitchen Fun: Baking buns, Ice cream making and doing the dinner are always great activities for kids. You will find the BBC Good Food website a treasure trove, with a special children’s section that is filled with simple cheap recipes. www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/cooking-projects-kids

• Movie club: Get together with other parents and take it in turns to host a movie night once a week by hunting our bargain DVDs in charity shops. Making your own popcorn from kernels on the hob; 500g bags cost 99p, and it’s fun to watch them pop in the pan. Check out summer offers at cinemas. Basingstoke Vue is offering morning movies for £2.49 a ticket throughout the summer holiday.

• Creative mess: Grab a shoe box and start filling it with old toilet roll tubes, magazines, plastic bottles or loose bits of string and buttons, etc. So if a rainy day extinguishes all your plans, your go-to craft box will keep young kids entertained.

• Free places to go: Acomprehensive list of free museums, galleries and festivals can be found at www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/

cheap-days-out, along with special offers for paid attraction. Alternatively, visit www.netmums.com/local-to-you/places-to-go for more indoor places to visit and activities to try when it is raining.

• Activity clubs: Churches running free clubs for 5-11 year-olds include:

• Kidz Klub at The Maltings: August 15 to 18 (mornings). Pre-register online at www.harvestchurchalton.org/kidzklub2017 or call 01420 81958.

• Summer COGS Club at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Four Marks: August 29 to September 1 (mornings) Call 01420 560622 or visit www.goodshepherdfourmarks.org.uk/church-life/cogs-club/

• CAP (Christians Against Poverty) helps people in Alton and Four Marks struggling with financial issues regardless of age, gender, faith or background. Call 0800 328 0006 or visit www.capdebthelp.org to find out more.