THE government was forced into a U-turn today by extending the free school meal vouchers scheme for children in England after a campaign fronted by Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.

The victory for campaigners and trade unions will feed 1.3 million children over the summer holidays.

After pressure from education unions in March ministers agreed to introduce a food voucher scheme during lockdown to prevent children who would have had access to free school meals going hungry while staying at home.