A WORCESTER bakery has offered to feed children who might struggle to eat during half term, after the government voted against a proposal to provide free school meals during the holiday.

Ma Baker, in Cranham Drive, is offering a free filled roll or hot pastry to any child who is going to struggle during the break.

A post on the bakery's Facebook page said: "Our elected MP has voted for the poorest children to go without food this half term.

"I cannot put into words how I feel about this without getting a Facebook ban.

"So what we're offering is, if you know a child that is going to struggle to eat over the half term, please send them our way for a filled roll or a hot pastry.

"Please don't be embarrassed or proud. If you'd like to call me personally so you don't have to ask in the shop, please use the mobile number on the website and I'll make sure it's ready for your child to collect."

Owner Sam Barriscale added: "Robin Walker's comments to say he voted against it because it criticised the government's failure to provide those meals, is like your wife asking you 'will you please do the washing up, you never do it' and you replying 'well because you've criticised me, I'm not going to do it".

"Let's see how long your relationship lasts if you behave like that.

"I hope that everyone in this City remembers that the next time it comes to an election."

The news comes after Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford called on the government to provide free school meals during the holidays.

Marcus Rashford’s petition to end child food poverty lead to a motion put down by Labour that was defeated by 322 votes to 261 on Wednesday.

Prior to the vote, more than 400 Worcester residents had signed the petition, and after the vote the England footballer called for MPs to face the issue head on, adding “these children matter... and for as long as they don’t have a voice, they will have mine.”

But Worcester MP Robin Walker said it was drafted as a motion no government member could support.

"This is a classic opposition trick," the MP said.

"You put forward a motion you know criticises the government and suggests something positive to do, and when the government votes against you attack them.

"They then use it to suggest Tory MPs don’t want children to eat.

"We have actually done more than any government in history to provide not only free schools meals but activities during the summer holidays. We voted against because we disagreed with the criticism inherent in the motion."