Free school meals will be provided for 12,000 county pupils for the rest of this academic year, Leicestershire County Council has confirmed.

The authority has pledged £500,000 to fund the meals over Christmas, half-term and Easter breaks.

The Council's leader, Cllr Nick Rushton, said: "We simply can't have children going hungry."

The Tory-run council is one of the latest on a list of local authorities pledging to plug the gap.

Pressure is mounting on the Government as a result of Manchester United star Marcus Rashford's nationwide campaign to end food poverty and provide school-children with free meals over the half-term holidays.

Earlier this year another campaign led by the England striker, who was recently made an MBE for his efforts, led to a Government u-turn, with the Prime Minister agreeing to extend free school meal vouchers throughout the summer holidays.

MPs recently voted against a bid to extend free meals to half term, prompting local businesses across the country to offer up free meals to eligible children.

Cllr Rushton, said: "As the leader of Leicestershire County Council there is no way I can have 12,000 of my area's children go hungry. I simply won't do it.

"Personally, I think the government has made a mistake, but that's for them.

"We have no money, it's taken a few days to crunch the numbers and make sure that this won't bankrupt us, but to be honest, we simply can't have children going hungry.

"As soon as we decided this morning we could and would do it we're telling people we will, not only should 12,000 children not be going hungry, their parents should not have to worry.

"Hopefully, this announcement will mean they won't."

Coun Rushton said he was unaware if another Government u-turn would be likely, but added: "If they change their minds, great, they'll be doing the right thing but we can't wait for that.

"We are doing the right thing now and we are proud to be able to."

The leader also said more funding is needed for councils to help support communities during the pandemic.

"They say about this £63 million, that was June's settlement and had to spent by the end of September so wouldn't have helped with this at all," he added.

"The latest round of funding also didn't see rural counties like Leicestershire fare well.

"We have to work with what we have but there was no question on this, we will find the funding, we simply have to."