A FORMER teacher has been recognised for her work serving up free meals to 200 school children every week. 

Rose Spink has been declared the winner of Hedge End Town Council's Serving the Community Award. 

The retired teacher founded the Youth Cafe at St Luke's Church in Hedge End in 2016 but now, seven years later, has 12 volunteers working with her. 

The cafe serves up free food to around 200 schoolchildren from Wildern and Deer Park schools at the church each week.

Having been given the award, Rose has been given a £100 gift voucher of her choice. 

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She said: "I was astonished to get the letter saying I'd been nominated and I can't believe I've won.

"The children are so wonderful. They come in with their smiling faces and we are just so happy to provide something for them.

"I'm so grateful to all our lovely volunteers and the kind people who donate funds so we can do this."

Pizza, toasties, sausage rolls, fruit and Rose's special ice cream milkshake are among the items served up at the cafe.

A spokesperson for the Town Council said: "It's become a place where they can relax together with friends every Thursday after school and, for a few, it may be the only food they get that evening."

Cllr Cliff Morris added: "It's fantastic that we have such wonderful people in Hedge End who are willing to give their time freely and selflessly to help others.

"They are all extremely deserving. It was so hard to pick a winner but Rose, and what she has achieved, impressed us all so much."