Campaigners have welcomed plans for a benefits boost that will support cash-strapped families.

Thousands of residents across Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire have already been given vital help through the Scottish Child Payment since it was launched in February last year.

The payment was due to rise to £20 per week, per child, from Friday and the Scottish Government has now confirmed there will be a further increase to bring the weekly benefit to £25 by the end of this year.

The announcement was made as part of a new plan by Holyrood chiefs to tackle child poverty.

Claire Telfer, of Save the Children, said the extra cash will make a welcome difference to many families.

She added: “Parents tell us that they need additional cash in household budgets to improve life for their children.

"Time will tell if the plan does enough to set the course to reduce child poverty to one in 10 children in eight years' time.

"In the meantime, the cost-of-living crisis reigns and families on low incomes face some of their toughest times yet. They need additional help now.”

Social Security Secretary Shona Robison said efforts are being made to avoid a future where families have to choose between heating and eating and where children are unable to access the essentials they need to thrive.

She added: "As a Parliament, we unanimously rejected this future in 2017 when we set our child poverty targets in statute.

"And we must reject it now."