Labour councillors in Macclesfield have called on David Rutley MP to back a campaign to fund free school meals for children through the half term and Christmas holidays.

The campaign has been launched by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashforf MBE who successfully lobbied the government to cover the lunches over the summer.

Cllr Laura Jeuda, who represents the Macclesfield south ward and also has responsibility for adult social care and health at Cheshire East Council, wrote to the local MP to get behind the effort.

She wrote: "I was saddened to see that the prime minister, Boris Johnson, has chosen to ignore calls to help poor families feed their children over the Christmas holidays.

"It's appalling that in 2020 so many of our children, our future, are living in absolute poverty with families struggling to provide adequate food."

In another letter, Cllr Ashley Farrall, wrote: "More than 34,000 children in Cheshire East are in food poverty, with nearly 70% from working families, many in your constituency of Macclesfield."

The central ward councillor added: "We are in an unprecedented time with all the stress and worry of the pandemic second wave, rising unemployment, furlough, reduced wages; the last thing that the parents of Macclesfield should be worrying about is if their kids are going to eat this Christmas."

Cheshire East's 'champion for young people', Cllr James Barber also called on Mr Rutley to back the campaign.

In his letter, Cllr Barber wrote: "Since the start of the original lockdown, myself and fellow ward councillors have been running a food bank collection, originally twice weekly on the Greenside Estate and Upton Priory.

"As part of this, we have heard many stories of the appalling situation many families find themselves in when it comes to food poverty, so on a local level the situation is serious, as well as nationally."

MP's will be voting on a Labour motion this evening that would force the government to U-turn and back the policy if passed.

A spokesperson for the PM said: "While schools continue to play an integral part in the community, it's not for them to regularly provide food during school holidays.

"The PM thinks that free school meals programme is very valuable and that is why it was extended by the Conservative government and we've got a whole range of additional support to make sure that children and their families don't go hungry during the pandemic."

Macclesfield Nub News has contacted David Rutley's office for comment.