PARENTS have reacted with delight to news that their children’s school will continue to serve hot meals despite fears the service could be axed.

As the Guardian reported earlier this year, families with pupils at Churchfields Infants in South Woodford were horrified when governors floated plans to scrap the school’s “unappealing, unbalanced and luke warm” lunches and replace them with cold food instead.

But now the school has backtracked following a consultation with parents which showed most were against the proposals.

The news comes as a new company is set to take over supplying meals to the borough’s schools in September.

ISS Caterhouse, which replaces former contractor Eden Catering, have been contracted by the council to provide the service for the next seven years.

Mum-of-three Samantha Stovin-Clark, who has a seven-year-old daughter at Churchfields, said: “I’m very pleased about it. Hot school dinners are so important and I’m glad we got the result we wanted.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed the food will be a bit better than under the old suppliers.”

The council says the new meals, which will be served at all schools which have a contract with the authority, will offer greater variety than previously, with food prepared “freshly on site using fresh ingredients”.

Ronke Martins-Taylor, the council's chief officer for services and young people, said, "The council is confident that schools and pupils will enjoy the new food service on offer and that school meal numbers will grow across the borough.

“Not only are we hoping the new menus will contribute to a healthier lifestyle for pupils but we also hope they will have an impact on educational standards."

Mark Davies, Director of ISS Caterhouse, said: "We are delighted to be working for schools and parents in Redbridge providing local school meals. As parents and grandparents ourselves we take this responsibility very seriously.

"We will be talking to headteachers and parents in the coming weeks to provide further menu information."