ANGRY parents confronted teachers after Peperami sausages and scotch eggs were confiscated from their children’s lunch boxes.

Anew policy at Cherry Tree Primary School, in Holt Drive, Colchester, bans junk food from packed lunches.

Some parents say it is unfair because the school’s menu offers desserts, including flapjacks, cookies and mousse.

Vikki Laws, of Nathan Court, Colchester, said her daughter Tori, six, was upset and hungry after a Peperami sausage snack was confiscated from her lunch box.

She said: “I asked her why she hadn’t eaten the sausage because they are her favourite thing in the world and she said she was not allowed to have them.

“We just found out when we opened the lunch boxes and the food was still there with an explanation slip.”

The snack was taken away from Tori at lunch and returned to her at the end of the day.

Miss Laws, 28, said the rest of Tori’s lunch was healthy, including fruit, yoghurt and sandwiches.

She said: “She felt victimised.

That’s her favourite thing and she was told she couldn’t eat it. There were other people around her having cakes for school afters.

“We are told we are not allowed to give them sweets and cakes, but the school is allowed to give them mousse, cakes, cookies.”

She said another parent was told her child was not allowed to have scotch eggs in her lunch box.

Tori was sent to school with one of the Peperami sausages in her lunch box again on Friday with a note attached to it that read: “Do not remove”.

About ten parents confronted the school’s assistant headteacher.

Miss Laws said they were told the school was complying with government policy.

She said: “The assistant head teacher is going to sort a meeting with the governors. ”

A spokesman for Cherry Tree Primary School said: “The health and wellbeing of our pupils is of paramount importance to us.

“Research shows children’s health and educational attainment are closely linked and we are committed to ensuring every child is given the best opportunity to achieve their potential in the classroom.

“Our healthy lunchbox policy has been in place for some time and the majority of parents are very supportive of it.

“The decision to take additional steps to ensure all pupils are adhering to the policy was taken following feedback from parents and as part of our continued efforts to make improvements to all areas of the school.

“All school meals we serve comply with the Government’s school food standards, as required by law.”