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Some of the Real Housewives of Cheshire have been criticised on social media after a leaked email asking for freebies went viral on Twitter.

Independent Chester wine bar Covino shared a screenshot on Twitter of an email, apparently from the ITVBe show's public relations team, asking if they could provide a 'complimentary dinner and drinks' to Dawn Ward, Rachel Lugo and Perla Navia during a visit to Chester, in return for social media promotion.

The email continued: "All ladies have a large following and would be able to promote the restaurant. They would be looking for a table around 7pm for 5 people."

Covino owner Chris Laidler reposted the email screenshot with a vomiting emoji and received thousands of comments on social media, sparking a discussion about the integrity of celebrities who use their fame to ask for freebies.

One user said: "Absolute state of this, begging letter to a small business so millionaires can have a free dinner."

And another tweeted: "Everything that's wrong with the world now - 'I have followers, give me stuff'."

Speaking to CheshireLive, Chris described the email as 'just embarrassing'.

"I just think it's a shame that they have to operate like that really, abusing their position when so many young girls look up to them as role models," he said.

(Image: David Holmes)

"I didn't respond to them because we're closed on a Monday so I missed the email but I know they do it to other restaurants all the time.

"And for the larger businesses, I do understand why they give away free stuff in exchange for promotion but for us, as a small independent business it leaves a bitter taste.

"I'm working for peanuts, on my hands and knees scrubbing floors and would have been down around £300 for a few seconds of 'advertising' on Instagram - it's just not on really," he added.

A number of other Chester restaurants tweeted that they too had been approached with a similar query.