Ethiopia’s long distance running legend Haile Gebresilassie joins UK Prime Minister David Cameron, international leaders and famous athletes at 10 Downing Street for ‘Hunger Summit’

Ahead of the summit, five children ran with Haile Gebrselassie around the bend of an athletics track in Downing Street, before handing a baton to Mr Cameron as part of a symbolic ‘race against hunger’.

Prime Minister David Cameron said progress would be a wonderful legacy.

The UK hopes to get commitments from other world leaders and multinational firms to help prevent 25 million children aged under five suffering stunted growth by the time of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Prime Minister then joined Haile Gebrselaissie, Brazilian football star Pele, Mo Farah and Brazil’s vice-president Michel Temer as they signed the baton to show their support for tackling child hunger.

The summit brought together leaders and senior politicians from Brazil, Kenya, Bangladesh, India and Ireland.

Haile Gebreselaissie told the political figures gathered that his home country had been ‘blighted’ by poverty and hunger.

Pointing out that Ethiopia had won three London gold medals, he said: ‘Just imagine what my country could have achieved if half of our children weren't suffering from malnutrition.’

The UK hopes to use its presidency of the G8 group of wealthy nations, starting next year, to build international support for action to prevent millions of deaths a year due to malnutrition.

Based on reporting from BBC and The Daily Mail