Cafes and restaurants offer free meals to kids in support of Marcus Rashford campaign

Bars and restaurants across the country have clamped down on offering free school meals to local children during the half term break in the wake of MPs "refusal to back a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford.

Footballer Marcus Rashford said he was 'blown away' when cafes and restaurateurs gave free meals to children for his campaign against child poverty.

Rashford, who recently was appointed an MBE after forcing a U-turn on the government' s free school meals vouchers over the summer holidays, said he was 'overwhelmed' with the offering of support, retweeting corporate services offering free meals.

Rashford then retweeted messages from cafes, bars and restaurants across the UK offering free meals during the half time break, as well as from local authorities claiming they were covering the cost of meal vouchers throughout the festive period.

A string of councils have also announced plans to provide free school meals to children.

The restaurant Rack, in St Helen's, London, which offers complimentary lunches and "early teas" for children, added: "We stand with Marcus Rashford."

Some of the councillors who help families through more than half their terms include: 'The real superstars in this country can be found in the heart of most cities, towns and villages, working tirelessly to support our most vulnerable across the UK,' the England international captioned