Footballer Marcus Rashford has been ‘blown away’ after kind businesses across the country offered to replace free school meals over the half-term.

The Manchester United star previously called on the Government to extend the scheme to cover school holidays, but Tory MPs yesterday voted against the move.

In the last 12 hours, Mr Rashford has shared a string of companies which have stepped up to plug the gap by offering free meals to children.

Labour leader Keir Starmer today praised the ‘great people of this country’ for pledging to help the vulnerable after the Government’s failure to ‘do the right thing’.

The firms are supporting struggling families despite facing unprecedented financial pressures as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Rashford said: “Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term.