MARCUS Rashford has been nominated to receive the freedom of Trafford after successfully campaigning for free school meals for struggling children.

The 22-year-old Manchester United player successfully pushed for central Government to U-turn on its decision to not extend its free school meals voucher scheme into the summer holidays.

The government will now fund a scheme – for which nearly 1.3 million children are eligible – following a campaign by the football star.

In an emotional tweet, Rashford said: “I don’t even know what to say. Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.”

Rashford wrote a letter to all MPs in parliament and called on them to reverse the government’s decision to end free school meals for low-income families.

The striker said the letter was ‘written from the heart’ and pleaded for authorities to let vulnerable children to continue receiving the free school means during summer.

Now Trafford Council leader, Cllr Andrew Western has been so impressed by the move he has suggested the England striker is deserving of the highest civic honour his club’s home borough can muster.

He said on Twitter: “Amazed by all Marcus Rashford has achieved in the last few months and know residents are too.

“For this reason, Manchester City fans Sara Todd and I have today nominated Marcus for the Freedom of the Borough here. 

“There’s a process to follow but I am proud we have done so. I know Kate Green and Mike Kane (Stretford and Urmston and Wythenshawe and Sale East MPs) will approve as well.”

The Streford and Urmston MP had publicly called for the scheme to be extended before the Whitehall announcement.

As a result of the U-turn, the Government will now plough £120 million into a one-off Covid summer food fund and is set to benefit around 15 pc of state school pupils.

Earlier this year the free school meals voucher scheme had been extended by the Government to cover both the Easter and half term school holidays.

Some Conservative MPs, namely Grant Shapps and Therese Coffey, had very recently refused to budge on the matter.

But Rashford’s campaign gained pace and other celebrities including Gary Lineker and Piers Morgan, both known to usually oppose each other on a number of matters, gave their backing to the England player.

Rashford followed up on his letter to MPs in a column in The Times newspaper last week.

And a picture of a banner, attached to a sign welcoming people to Wythenshawe, Rashford's home town, reading 'Rashford 1 Boris 0' went viral.