A primary school has come under fire after asking pupils to stop bringing meat in their packed lunches.
Children at Barrowford Primary School, near Nelson, Lancashire, says it is educate children about the environmental impact of eating animals.
But while the rule was 'introduced' last year, furious parents say were only informed by letter earlier this week.
Headteacher Rachel Tomlinson said the school is encouraging their children to switch to a vegetarian diet, reports the Sun.
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The policy has outraged mum Zoe Douglas who described it as “a joke”.
She told The Mirror she is now looking to move her daughter Amelia to a different school.
The angry mum added: "I think they forget that non-meat eaters and vegans have to take a lot of supplements.
"What supplements they getting instead at that school?
"Nothing, probably saving on food costs."
Another parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said children should not be forced to give up meat.
"Vegetarian is a choice for when they are older," she said.
“Why not accommodate the veggies, vegans, whatever and add to the menu instead of making our kids adapt?
"And to request parents pack lunches that are veggie as well, not to mention the local farmers, this is absolutely ludicrous.”
However, some parents have welcomed the switch to meat-free lunches.
Mum Lauren Stirzaker Jackson, whose daughter attends Barrowford Primary, said: "The school is trying to cater for everyone. Whatever they do, someone will moan.
"I am not vegetarian and I think the lunch choices are great.
"If people are upset they have the option to send a packed lunch if they wish, nothing is forced."
The school, which has been rated good by Ofsted, has not received any complaints from parents since it brought in the rule a year ago, according to the headteacher.
She added: “We made our school lunches meat-free to demonstrate how each of us making a small change to our daily habits can have a much wider positive impact, and that reducing meat consumption is just one way to do this.
"We have been careful to approach this in a balanced way, and teach that it is fine to eat meat, but that reducing our consumption can help our planet."
