HOT meals could be back on the menu at West Sussex schools after a controversial deal to provide cold snacks collapsed.

The county council had scrapped hot dinners for children and offeredthe contract to provide cold meals to catering firm Gardner Merchant.

But the agreement has been scrapped over "contractual problems".

9 And 800 catering staff who were due to lose their jobs when Gardner Merchant took over have now been left in confusion.

Schools now have the option of retaining their own staff to provide hot meals, a choice they would not have had under the Gardner Merchant deal.

The decision to scrap hot meals was taken to save an estimated £500,000 a year.

Acouncil spokesman said complex contractual problems with Gardner Merchant were impossible to resolve and the contract will once again be put out to tender.

Gardner Merchant was due to provide sandwiches, a drink, cake and fruit for all primary school age children but it was not known how many kitchen staff they would retain.

The council spokesman said: "It may be that primary schools will want to provide their own meals but the economics of that may make it unlikely."

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