A primary school has saved its canteen staff from redundancy – by getting them to cook for the entire village.

Wittersham Primary School is inviting residents to join the children every Wednesday for a community lunch they are calling Back to School dinners.

The idea has received enthusiastic support from diners who are charged only £3 for a roast dinner, plus pudding.

The scheme - thought to be the first by any school - is saving the jobs of cooks Janet Pudan and Heather Manahan who only a couple of months ago were faced with unemployment.

Head teacher Judith Thornton said: “The problem was if we couldn’t break even with the school meals then we were going to have to release staff and bring meals in.

“We put a flyer in the village magazine asking if people were interested in having back to school dinners and had an immediate response!”

Even the school’s 127 pupils were enthused.

“A lot more children are now having meals after they were made aware of the problem by the midday supervisor,” added Miss Thornton.

“Year 6 takes it in turn to act as hosts taking people to the serving hatch and helping them with their meals.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) we had 20 booked and the highest number we’ve had so far is 27.”

The scheme’s success is evident in the number of plaudits left in the comments’ book - among them: “Very good lunch, will be booking again” and “very good meal, good value for money”; and “Another delicious meal”.

Miss Thornton said: “I think people like having dinner with the children. We have quite a lot of older people - some of them past employees of the school - they have a nice, relaxing time, enjoying their meal.”