Hard-up parents in South Holland could be creating long-term health problems for their children by failing to have their feet measured for new shoes.
A major shoe retailer says 25 per cent of East Midlands parents are buying fewer new pairs of shoes for their kids – and four per cent pass on cast-offs from brothers and sisters.
Podiatrist Emma Supple, who advises Brantano on foot health, said ill-fitting shoes produce short term problems like redness, soreness and blisters, but long-term effects are far more damaging.
“These include bunions, foot deformities and even back and knee pain and posture problems which can directly affect their walking for the rest of their lives,” she said.
The Spalding Guardian spoke to mums shopping in Spalding and all said they have their children’s feet professionally measured – which is free – and new shoes count for around 40 per cent of the £100 cost of kitting out their kids for the start of the new school year.
Moulton mum Leanne Wagner (29) has four children, Clayton (12), Ruby (7), Amelia (4) and Bailey (3).
She’s on income support, but has her children’s feet measured and buys correctly fitting shoes.
Leanne’s already spent nearly £100 kitting out Clayton for his new school, University Academy Holbeach, but still has his shoes to buy.
Her girls go to Moulton Harrox Primary and Leanne buys cardigans from the school and the rest of the uniform from supermarkets.
Vanessa Moore had daughter Eloise’s feet measured at Spalding shoe shop Revills and says her new shoes cost £36.
Eloise (4) starts school at Monkshouse next month.
Mum Sarah Manning was on a day out to Spalding from Burgh le Marsh and had her son and daughter’s feet measured at Clarks at Springfields and at Brantano.