Kedassia, the kashrut arm of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, is to cut the cost of poultry by 50p a kilo in the four weeks before Pesach.

"We want to relieve the heavy financial burden on families," said UOHC executive co-ordinator Chanoch Kesselman. "The bills run up as families buy in more. We decided to help in a small way."

Kedassia, which deals with 10 butchers in the Golders Green, Stamford Hill and Edgware areas, expects the discount to apply to 80,000 chickens. It will bring an average saving of £1 per bird.