PARENTS at two borough primary schools have been left fuming after a pilot scheme to give all pupils free school meals was pulled at short notice.

NHS South West Essex’s free school meals pilot project was to see all pupils at Lansdowne Primary in Tilbury, and Herringham Primary in Chadwell St Mary, receive free the healthy meals as part of a trial.

Parents were informed of the scheme just before children broke up for the summer holidays, but when they returned this week they were told funding had fallen through and the scheme wasn’t going ahead.

Parent Mark Burrison, of London Road, Tilbury, has three children at Lansdowne Primary. The scheme could have saved him £24 a week.

He said: “We heard about the scheme as it was announced in the school’s newsletter just before the kids broke up.

“Then on the first day back at school we’re told it’s not happening any more as the funder has pulled out.

“Its unbelievable, I think it’s really out of order.”

Mr Burrison said other parents are also annoyed, especially those who normally get free school meals because of their financial situation.

He added: “It’s the parents who normally get free school that I feel sorry for.

“Some didn’t bother putting all the forms in to apply for the free school meals because they thought they would be getting them free anyway.

“Parents at the school are quite angry and want to see the scheme reinstated.”

NHS South West Essex agreed with Thurrock Council to go ahead with the scheme before the summer, but said budget problems meant they had to shelve it.

Barbara Stuttle CBE, deputy chief executive of NHS South West Essex, said: “I know this will be difficult for the school and many parents and I would like to offer my sincere apologies for this disappointing news.

“Over the summer, we have had to reconsider this agreement and prioritise our budget to focus on services relating more directly to patient care.”