Paper plates with passionate messages about child poverty were placed on railings outside Fiona Bruce MP's office in Congleton.

The protest followed Mrs Bruce's decision not to support England and Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford's campaign to extend the provision of free school meals throughout half-term.

Conservatives voted down a motion to feed more than £1.4 million children during school holidays until Easter next year.

Alsager Town councillor, Jo Dale, led the protest outside Mrs Bruce's office in Congleton on Monday afternoon, sticking up paper plates and holding signs with messages about hunger.

One of the messages on the paper plates said: "If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger."

Cllr Dale, who stood against Mrs Bruce for Labour in last December's General Election, said: "Fiona Bruce's decision to vote against the extension of free school meals shows utter contempt for vulnerable children in this constituency.

"Let's remember that over 20% of children in the Congleton constituency live in poverty.

"Times are tough right now - with huge job losses, wage cuts and instability for the future - these are not normal times and extending free school meal vouchers into school holidays is a direct way to help vulnerable children.

"It should have been done in a heartbeat - Fiona has shown a complete lack of empathy and compassion by voting against this."

Although Marcus Rashford's campaign has been "absolutely incredible", Cllr Dale felt it "shouldn't take a footballer to shame the government into doing the right thing".

Cllr Dale added: "The government have talked about levelling up, but their actions show the opposite."

In the days since the government's decision, businesses, organisations and community groups have rallied together, providing meals and packed lunches for vulnerable children during half-term.

Cllr Dale continued: "The outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming with businesses, community groups and organisations all springing into action to help.

"Businesses have also had it very tough this year and again it should not be left to them and their amazing community spirit to plug this gap.

"Around Alsager where I live we have had businesses such as Chinese Garden, The Wilbraham Arms, The Broughton Arms and Bank Corner all offer free meals for children this week, with other organisations such as Townhouse Nurseries and Alsager Town stepping up to help along with countless individuals."

Cllr Dale added: "We live in the sixth richest country in the world. Child poverty should not exist in this country - it is a political choice.

"This has not happened overnight, a decade of austerity and draconian cuts has fuelled this and the current pandemic has made people's livelihoods yet more uncertain.

"Seven in 10 children in poverty are now in a working family, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's annual UK poverty report found.

"This is because the trend of living costs exceeding wages shows no sign of abating."

At the hustings in Alsager last December, Cllr Dale claimed when asked about child poverty, Mrs Bruce said: "The way out of poverty is to get a job."

Cllr Dale concluded: "This comment shows how out of touch she is with what is actually happening in this constituency."

Alsager Nub News has contacted Fiona Bruce's office for comment.