Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has backed a Bucks New University project to help feed schoolchildren after MPs voted against extending free school meals. 

The footballer, 22, has been a vocal food poverty campaigner and clashed with Wycombe MP Steve Baker about Labour's motion to extend free school meals over school holidays until Easter 2021 before the vote happened on Wednesday. 

ALSO READ: Manchester United star Marcus Rashford clashes with Wycombe MP Steve Baker on school meals

Four out of five Bucks MPs voted not to extend free school meals over the holidays - with Beaconsfield MP Joy Morrissey not taking part in the vote. 

In the days after the vote, the Man United striker vowed to continue his campaigning despite the setback - and shared details of Bucks New University's Students' Union plan to help feed hungry children to his 3.5 million followers. 

The Union says it wants to help tackle child food poverty in High Wycombe by providing free hot lunches for those in need during the October half term next week. 

The Union set about creating a fundraising to raise £300 to provide the meals - but that target has been smashed already. 

Bucks Free Press:

Marcus Rashford. Picture by PA Wire

So fair more than £1,200 has been raised. 

Any money left over will be spent on similar schemes or donated to foodbanks. 

The Union said on its website: "We believe that no child should go hungry, especially during a global pandemic.

ALSO READ: This is how Bucks' MPs voted on Labour's free school meals plan

"As we are a part of the High Wycombe community we understand that we must all do what we can to help those in need, and with only days until half-term starts, we have decided to open up our on-site café, The Lounge, from 12-2pm to provide school aged children in need with a free hot meal throughout the whole week. 

"With the spike in demand for food banks throughout the pandemic and many families in a worse position now than they were during the summer, we not only want to ensure that we can do our part to provide access to free meals throughout the half term but that we can do so in a Covid-secure way and help to keep people safe.

"The Lounge has been, and will continue to operate in a Covid-secure manner, with staff wearing masks, the NHS Track and Trace scan upon arrival and hand sanitiser stations placed throughout, the safety of those joining us on campus will always be a priority."

If you can volunteer your time to help out with the initiative during half term, email jade.collis@bucks.ac.uk. 

There will also be donation points available for anyone who wants to donate food or personal hygiene products, which will then be used in foodbank parcels for families in need. 

To donate money, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bucksstudentsunionhotschoolmeals