THE majority of pupils from across Dumbarton and the Vale will have access to hot meals at school starting from next week.

West Dunbartonshire Council has announced that hot food will be reintroduced in the majority of schools and nurseries across the local authority by September 14. 

But, five primaries from across the area will not be serving hot meals until September 21 - Balloch Campus, Bellsmyre Campus (St Peters/Aitkenbar), Gartocharn Primary, St Martin's Primary, and St Mary's Primary, Alexandria.

The council-run nurseries not providing hot food until September 21 include: Andrew B Cameron ELCC, Bellsmyre ELCC, Balloch ELCC, Brucehill ELCC, Gartocharn ELCC, Levenvale ELCC, Riverside ELCC, St Mary’s ELCC Alexandria.

Since schools went back on August 11, pupils have been given packed lunches. 

We previously told how parents slammed the council's involvement in the government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme due to the lack of options available. 

The council previously told the Reporter: “The council would like to apologise for the temporary loss of a hot meal option. Many of our school kitchens are small, making physical distancing extremely challenging for catering staff.

"Like many other authorities, we are temporarily offering packed lunches which are produced by fewer staff making physical distancing within the kitchens easier.

“We are currently reviewing arrangements in each of our kitchens and intend to reinstate hot school meals as soon as it is safe to do so.”