Marcus Rashford's pride as his free school meals campaign goes viral

Footballer Marcus Rashford has spoken of his pride after his free meals campaign was inundated with offers from restaurants and cafes to to feed vulnerable children over half term.

He told his 3.7 million followers: "The superstars of this nation lie in local communities. Even after taking the biggest hits you have wrapped your arms around your community to catch children as they fell. I really can’t thank you enough, you’re amazing."

Local councils have also said they will set up schemes to feed thousands of disadvantaged children next week after MPs rejected a bid from Labour, inspired by footballer Marcus Rashford, to extend free school meals over the school holidays until Easter 2021.

Rashford has been hailed a "hero of our times" after his campaign to provide free meals to children during the school holidays prompted an outpouring of support on social media.

The 22-year-old posted a string of tweets to his 3.6 million followers on Thursday night and throughout Friday, highlighting cafes, bars, restaurants and other organisations who had volunteered to help children going hungry.

The England and Manchester United striker has been hailed a "hero of our times" after his campaign to provide free meals to children during the school holidays prompted an outpouring of support on social media.

The 22-year-old posted a string of tweets to his 3.6 million followers yesterday highlighting cafes, bars, restaurants and other organisations who had volunteered to help children going hungry.

A number of Conservative councils have joined town halls up and down the country in committing to provide free school meals over the October half term and in a sign of growing public anger a petition calling for an end to subsidised meals for MPs reached more than half-a-million signatures in just days.