A headteacher who vowed not to feed pupils who own more than a penny for schools meals has defended his decision.
Neil Foden says school meal debts at his school currently stand at £1,800 and he has given parents until November 19 to pay them - or face their children going hungry.
Mr Foden who is strategic head of 450-pupil Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes, Gwynedd, sent a letter informing parents of his hard-line plans and left many furious.
The BBC has since reported how Mr Foden took action because of the four-figure debt across the entirety of the village school.
He said: "We're not talking about cracking down excessively harshly on a handful of parents who've run up debts of a fiver or so.
"We're talking about 70 pupils whose parents have run up debts."
Mr Fodden said nine families owe more than £50 and three are overdrawn by more than £100.
The letter, which sparked the original anger, said that across the school there was a combined debt of more than £1,800.
He added: "We don't want to tar everyone with the same brush, but realistically, those parents who can pay but won't pay, something has to be done.
"Otherwise, as I say, all pupils suffer because money that should be spent on their books and resources is spent subsidising school meals."
A deadline of November 19 has been set for parents to get their children's accounts up to date - as there was a deficit in the school meals budget at the end of the last half term.
Dad Darren Owen also spoke with the BBC after being contacted by the local authority for 36p being overdrawn from his school meal account.
The dad-of-five told them: "I understand that people should pay their bills but, at the same time, people are struggling.
"Surely they know who the parents are. Can't they help them?"
The 43-year-old says there has to be a better solution.
He said: "We don't know what goes on behind closed doors.
"People send their kids to school knowing they'll get fed today. It could be their only meal of the day."
A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said yesterday that anyone having difficulty in paying for their child's school meals should contact the education department or school directly.
They continued: "In terms of payment of school meals, an online system has been introduced on which parents should ensure that sufficient funds are in place to pay for their child's school meals.
"The payment system offers some flexibility for parents who may for whatever reason not be able to make payment for a short period of time.
"Reminder messages are sent as required to ensure that no significant debts are incurred.
"As a council, we do not operate a blanket policy of refusing meals to pupils, and will discuss this matter directly with the school."
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