A MARKET trader has been called a 'legend' after he fed a starving family who hadn't eaten for two days.

Danny Parkinson, from Leigh, was working on a stall at the Christmas Markets in Manchester when he gave four desperate children, aged between nine and 13, and their parents a free meal and gave their mum money out of his own pocket for Christmas presents.

The starving family had been brought to Manchester Town Hall by police after they were forced to leave their accommodation because it had no electricity or heating and seek help at a welfare agency office in city centre.

Det Sgt Dave Henshall called the 19-year-old a 'legend' in a post on Twitter on Monday night.

The post read: “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 fromLancashire Hot Pot 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”.

But the teenager has played down his involvement, replying to praise from the public on Twitter saying: "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 people would do the same! "Cheers for all the compliments but I really don't deserve it!"

Social services are currently trying to re-home the family.