Mesut Ozil provides free school meals for children in north London in support of Marcus Rashford’s campaign

Arsenal midfielder is believed to be supplying around 1,400 meals per day across almost a dozen schools

Mesut Ozil has shown his support for Marcus Rashford’s campaign and is providing free school meals for around 1,400 pupils in the north London area.

The Arsenal midfielder’s gesture is thought to encompass almost a dozen schools, including pupils at Whitings School in Barnet, who were able to collect a free lunchtime meal on Tuesday.

“The school wanted to say thank you for his kindness and generosity,” said Whitings School headteacher Sejal Patel. 

Rashford’s campaign for the government to provide school meals during the holidays has been rejected by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but continues to gather overwhelming support across the country.

Rashford has used his Twitter feed to highlight communities offering free meals in support of his petition, which has now attracted almost one million signatures in less than two weeks, and threatens to engulf the government in another public relations crisis.

"Those who have rallied around our communities, please continue to do so, you are the real pride of Britain,” Rashford wrote.

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