A Woodbridge restaurant owner handed out around 100 free burger meals to youngsters to commemorate a national holiday in his native Turkey.

Feyzan Akbulut, director of Blue Salt Wood Fired Grill, offered the meals on Saturday to mark the Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's Day.

East Anglian Daily Times: Children up to the age of 15 could claim the free foodChildren up to the age of 15 could claim the free food (Image: Neil Didsbury)

It is held every April 23 in Turkey and celebrates the first gathering of the Grand National Assembly.

East Anglian Daily Times: Jack, 8 and Charlie, 9, about to tuck into their burgersJack, 8 and Charlie, 9, about to tuck into their burgers (Image: Neil Didsbury)

The celebrations focus on children because Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, said that youngsters were the nation's future.

East Anglian Daily Times: The burgers were given away to mark the Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's DayThe burgers were given away to mark the Turkish National Sovereignty and Children's Day (Image: Neil Didsbury)

Mr Akbulut said he was prepared to feed as many as 300 children at the weekend as a gesture of goodwill.

He said: "It was a good day. We had around 100 people turn up. It was the first time we had done this.

East Anglian Daily Times: Feyzan Akbulut with staff members at the Blue Salt restaurant in WoodbridgeFeyzan Akbulut with staff members at the Blue Salt restaurant in Woodbridge (Image: Neil Didsbury)

"I like to do this sort of thing - it's my way of life.

"Many people couldn't believe that we were doing this for free, but they said it was a lovely thing."