A desperate family were given their first meal in TWO DAYS by a kind-hearted Christmas Market trader.

The four hungry youngsters were handed free food by a stallholder in Albert Square after he witnessed their dire situation.

Vendor Danny Parkinson dished up meals free of charge for the children, who are aged between 9 and 13, and also gave their mum some money to buy Chrismas presents, police said.

The 19-year-old trader says he doesn’t deserve any credit, but GMP officers have hailed his generosity and festive spirit.

The teenager showed true Christmas spirit on Monday night after the family tried to get emergency help at a welfare agency office in Manchester city centre.

Police were called after the children’s father refused to leave saying they had to leave their own accommodation because it had no electricity or heating.

Police took the family to Manchester Town Hall and called social services for help. When word got around the Christmas Market traders in Albert Square, kindly Danny served up a meal for the famished children.

Describing the incident, Det Sgt Dave Henshall posted on Twitter on Monday night: “Manchester public really are the best in the world. Homeless family with four children who hadn’t eaten for two days attended a building in the city this evening and in a state of desperation refused to leave as they were hungry and homeless.

“One of our PCSOs brought them back to our station and is currently on to Social Services with a view to helping them tonight.

“Whilst that is going on, Danny from the Albert Square Christmas Markets has not only fed them all, but gave a contribution out of his own pocket for Mum to get the children a little something for Christmas”. He added that Danny was “a legend.”

But Danny, who lives in Leigh, Wigan, later played his role down and said in a series of tweets: “Everyone’s giving me praise for what I’ve done but at the end of the day there’s average people doing things everyday who don’t get a bean of credit! Everyone needs to learn you get out of life what you put into it! One day I might be in that position and I’d like to think...think people would do the same! Cheers for all the compliments but I really don’t deserve it! #lovelife #livelife”

City centre inspector Phil Spurgeon added: “As police we usually see people at their worst; as vulnerable people, victims or villains. So it’s always great to see people at their best, and the kindness shown by Danny was truly wonderful.”

Police added that social services are now trying to re-home the family.