“A SERVICE failure” left children in Dorset aged four to seven years old with late lunches, poor quality food or no meal at all. They are the findings of Dorset County Council’s audit and scrutiny committee who have examined the problems that have arisen since the caterer Chartwells was awarded a contract to produce free school meals in the county.

The council’s cabinet has now agreed to produce an action plan to address the issues that have arisen from the free school meals scheme.

Audit and Scrutiny committee members heard from cabinet members, officers and school meal providers in Dorset. They established what went wrong and how similar situations can be avoided in future.

Cllr Spencer Flower, leader of the county council, said: “We have taken on board the findings from the audit and scrutiny committee. It is imperative we produce an action plan addressing the issues that have been identified.”

The committee also heard from the contractor Chartwells. They apologised for the failings, pledging that the opening of a new production kitchen in Poole would fully resolve the problems after half-term.

Letters have been sent to parents offering refunds and schools will receive a minimum of £2,100 to cover the expenses incurred during the rocky start.