COUNCIL officials have been accused of penny pinching over their plans to pull out of the Meals on Wheels service in Chester-le-Street.

Chester-le-Street District Council has decided to stop funding the service - which it provides on behalf of Durham County Council social services - to pensioners in the town.

The council spends £29,000 a year on the service, also providing meals for 14 luncheon clubs throughout the district, which it says now attract only 96 people.

The moves comes amid a county-wide review of the service, prompted by the Government's "best value'' system for assessing council-run services.

It could see the Women's Royal Voluntary Service taking over meal delivery. Tony Moore, independent Durham county councillor for Shildon North-East, said: "I think they are being misers, and I'm worried that the service in Chester-le-Street could fold.

"We have always prided ourselves in County Durham on a first class Meals on Wheels service for pensioners.

"My concern is that it provides a main meal for pensioners and can be a lifeline for some of them. It should be a priority for this council.''

A Chester-le-Street Council spokeswoman said: "Our executive committee is to recommend that we stop our Meals on Wheels and luncheon clubs from March.

"People who get Meals on Wheels shouldn't be affected because it is a Durham County Council statutory function and we have been contributing voluntarily to that.

"The numbers going to luncheon clubs are so small and have fallen drastically it is not worth doing it in isolation.

"Twenty or 30 years ago old people would be happy to go and sit in a hall and have some lunch, but times have changed.

"We have to make sensible decisions on how we spend money, especially if it is somebody else's responsibility.''

A county council spokesman said: "We are aware of Chester-le-Street's decision and will meet them to discuss an exit strategy.

"We are looking at who else could provide Meals on Wheels in the Chester-le-Street area.

"The WRVS could provide a more flexible service. The people who still require meals will get them.''