HARD-UP families will continue to receive Albion support with thousands of free meals over the winter months.

Brighton and Hove Albion want to provide cash for meals through October, November, December and January to those struggling in the city.

The club is making a regular monthly donation to Brighton-based food charity Chomp.

It follows concerns raised by Manchester United centre forward Marcus Rashford to highlight food poverty, with children not provided with free school meals during the half term break, and Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson refusing to step in.

Albion’s club captain Lewis Dunk said players wanted to show support for Marcus Rashford’s campaign.

He said: “What he has done is amazing and has highlighted such an important issue in modern day Britain. Everybody now understands that, for many families, life is tough at the moment, due to the pandemic and the time of year, and that no child should ever go hungry.

“The brilliant work being done by Chomp and other food charities in the Brighton & Hove and wider Sussex area has never been more crucial to so many families.

“We wanted to give back to the community who in normal circumstances come out to fill the Amex and show their support for us week after week.”

The Seagulls’ outreach work has seen the club providing meals for those hardest-hit by the coronavirus crisis.

In April during the height of the first coronavirus lockdown Albion in the Community helped deliver more than 12,500 meals to vulnerable fans who had to stay at home to shield from the disease.

That scheme saw the club team up with staff at Bill’s restaurant and bar in North Road and at The Ivy in Ship Street, owned by Richard and Patricia Caring.

Now the club is working with Chomp through the winter months, with significant donations from Albion players, directors, staff and fans, and was part of the remaining funds from the Albion as One campaign.

The fund raised £400,000 during the lockdown to help charities, and the bulk has been distributed to worthy causes across Sussex.

Meanwhile Albion in the Community’s Premier League Kicks Programme, which supports vulnerable children with food education and football activity, supplied all participants at today’s session with a free healthy lunch, courtesy of the club’s catering partners Sodexo.