AN AWARD-winning Southampton restaurant is to offer city children free school meals following the Governments decision to not provide free school meals during school holidays.

Kutis Brasserie has today announced that it will be offering all children free hot meals between 12pm and 2,30pm to support the community during half term.

The announcement was made on Twitter this afternoon with a statement from owner Kuti.

He said: "Following the governments decision not to extend the meal voucher scheme during one of the most difficult times in our county's history. Kuti's Brasserie will be offering free hot meals to any child from 12-2.30pm to support our community over half term in Southampton.

"We'd like to thank our suppliers Owtons Butcher and Gower Salt Marsh Lamb for helping us to support the people of Southampton."

It comes after the Government voted against Marcus Rashford's bid to have free school meals for eligible children extended through the coming holidays.

Labour's motion, which called for the scheme to be extended over the school holidays until Easter 2021, was defeated by 261 votes to 322 – a majority of 61.

All Hampshire MPs - except Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead and Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan - voted against the motion.

The government said it has been giving “substantial support to families and children”.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the Conservatives had voted to let the more than 1.4 million children eligible for free school meals go hungry through the holidays.

“Tonight I voted to feed our country’s vulnerable and needy children. The Tories voted to let them go hungry,” she tweeted.