Free school breakfasts axed as new term starts

Pupils will have to pay 50p after council officials decided they could not afford to give the meals away.

Some youngsters turned up for the start of the new school year to find out that they would have to pay, while others were told of the change in letters distributed before the summer.

Dad John Bone - whose sons Mark, ten, and Adam, five - go to Alexandra Parade Primary in the east end of Glasgow was furious at the move. He said: "My boys regularly go for breakfast and enjoy the chance to mix with pupils of different ages. But they won't be going any more."

Glasgow City Council, which won plaudits for the scheme as part of its bid to boost youngsters' health, stressed that children entitled to free school meals would not be asked to pay for their breakfasts.

A spokeswoman for the council stressed that the 50p only covered part of the cost of the meals. "Head teachers were provided with letters to inform parents of the new charges. We apologise to any parent who did not receive this letter, but this is a nominal charge for an excellent service.