PUPILS across West Sussex will go without a hot Christmas meal at school for the first time in more than 50 years.

West Sussex County Council axed hot school meals in a bid to save £500,000, putting more than 500 kitchen staff out of work.

But as the festive season draws near children across the county will not be getting their usual annual treat of a traditional Christmas roast turkey with all the trimmings.

Brian Hall, Lib Dem county councillor for Haywards Heath West, is furious that no provision is to be made for Christmas and believes some children from poorer families will not now get a decent Christmas dinner.

Coun Hall said: "I think it is a fact that many families are in difficult financial circumstances and cannot afford to have a full Christmas dinner, and therefore it is vital that children are given one at school.

"It's just typical that the county council are happy to spend money on other things such as employing a Mexican Wave co-ordinator but cannot give children a hot meal at Christmas.

"As far as I know it will be the first time in more than 50 years since the war that children will not have a hot meal to celebrate Christmas."

Catering firm Gardner Merchant won the contract from Castle View and now provides packed lunches to children entitled to a free school meal.

West Sussex contract manager for Gardner Merchant, Colin

Garnham-Edge, said it would not be possible to provide a hot meal at Christmas for pupils.

Mr Garnham-Edge said: "There's no equipment in the kitchens so it will be impossible to prepare any hot food.

"The kitchens have been stripped of all the cooking equipment, plates, utensils and washing facilities.

"But we will be running a colouring competition with three different age categories and the winner of each category in the county will win a mountain bike and a safety helmet and £50 for their school."

Children will also receive a Christmas card each from the catering firm.

Meanwhile, a legal battle is continuing over who should pay the estimated £300,000 cost of the redundancy pay owed to former staff.

A date for the High Court hearing has not been set.

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