A LITTLE girl at risk of starvation without KFC popcorn chicken will be supplied with the fast food during the lockdown after an appeal from the Daily Echo.

Akira Gujadhur, six, suffers from a rare eating disorder meaning she refuses to eat anything else.

With all branches of KFC closed during the coronavirus lockdown, her parents, Raj and Hem, feared the worst.

But, following an appeal for help, KFC has agreed to deliver a month’s supply of popcorn chicken to the family’s Poole home to see them through the crisis.

A KFC spokesperson said: “We’ve been in touch with Akira’s family and know what a challenging situation this is for them. We want to help out, so we’re delivering some free popcorn chicken to see them through the next month. We hope it makes this time a little easier for Akira and her whole family.”

Raj said: “This is very good news and I would like to say thank you to everyone involved.

“We were getting really, really anxious but now she won’t starve.”

As reported in the Daily Echo, Akira suffered a severe throat infection when she was eight-months-old and refused to eat.

Doctors advised her parents to put different foods in front of her until she selected something.

She chose a piece of popcorn chicken when she was nine-months-old and has refused to eat anything else since, a condition confirmed by specialist consultants at St Thomas’ Hospital in London and a detailed care plan seen by the Daily Echo.

The family, of Hermitage Road, Parkstone, has since spent more than £16,000 on popcorn chicken, visiting their local store in Ashley Road twice every day.

Their appeal for help was backed by a letter from St Thomas’ Hospital, which said: “Akira has diagnoses of autism, learning difficulties and Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder(ARFID). ARFID is a specific sensory and anxiety-based feeding disorder.

“She has a narrow repertoire of foods that she is able to eat, and extremely high levels of anxiety about new and unfamiliar foods.

“One of the main sources of nutrition for Akira is KFC popcorn chicken. She will not accept similar sorts of chicken sold in supermarkets.”

At the beginning of the lockdown Raj and Hem invested in the same kitchen equipment used by KFC and bought 10 packs of popcorn chicken from their local branch.

They have been replicating the KFC meal at home but were due to run out on Friday April 17.

Raj added: “This is such a relief. We had started giving her a little bit less each day so it didn’t run out.”