A Cowbridge woman has started delivering free lunches to families struggling to cope during half-term.

Micaela Turner started a food donation service over the weekend in response to the UK government rejecting the motion to extend the provision of free school meals during holidays until Easter 2021.

She also owns sweet business The Candy Kings, but felt moved to take action in her community.

On Saturday she posted on Facebook offering free packed lunches throughout half-term to those who need it, who could message, text, or phone her to arrange delivery.

That same day, she bought the food and then spent the rest of the weekend packaging the produce into packed lunches to distribute.

"Everyone has their opinions and loves a debate on social media. I just think that there are lots of people in favour of children having free meals, but just writing posts on Facebook isn't going to help. So, let's do something," said Micaela.

"In my opinion this isn't a debate. Every child deserves food. Even if parents are making poor choices, that isn't the child's fault and the child still suffers.

"We've had a massive response from it but it's sad that there are so many people are struggling in our community. A lot of these people are workers, not even on benefits," she said.

Along with four friends, Micaela was able to deliver 84 meals around Cowbridge, Llantwit Major, Barry, St Athan and Bridgend, providing five days' worth of lunches to 43 families.

Micaela wanted to focus on people that are "falling through the net" when it comes to financial support.

"The response was so big, so what I've had to do is prioritise those that aren't receiving free meal vouchers this week," she said.

"There are so many people struggling to provide for their children because they're on furlough, and maybe they can't keep up with rent.

"Not everyone has friends and family in their life that they can turn to.

"We delivered to a lady yesterday with two children under the age of three, so she can't get free school dinners for them.

"She works but has fallen on hard times. She has been trying to contact social services over the last week and had no response from them.

"She had no milk or bread, she had one pizza to go between her and her children all day," said Micaela.

Initially Micaela used her own money, feeling she was in a lucky position to not have been greatly affected by Coronavirus.

She bought items such as fruit, bread, milk, crisps, cheese, ham, biscuits, squash and yogurts so that there was something for children of all ages.

As her Facebook posts gained more attention, Micaela set up a Just Giving page and a Facebook group for people who want to get involved.

Since she began, Micaela now pays for half the donations herself and uses items that other people have donated to her cause. She will shop again tomorrow and deliver on Thursday.

"It's for people who are struggling to know that there are people out there in their community able to help," said Micaela.

"There's so much negativity and fear at the moment, so we'd love to get more people on board.

"If any other companies have leftover stock, I'm willing to collect it and redistribute it.

" The Humble Bee have offered to donate all their left-over stock every Saturday," she said.

Micaela also made up 'Halloween cones' full of sweets to give out, for children missing out on trick or treating this year.

"My husband had a difficult childhood and would fall into the category of people we're trying to help now. For him, Halloween was a highlight of the year," she said.

"People might say sweets aren't an essential item, which I agree with, but building those happy memories are essential.

"So many people have lost their humanity in this crisis, we need to be kinder to people and look after people in our communities," said Micaela.