IT'S business as usual for staff and youngsters at a York primary school at the centre of a school meals row.

Last week Derwent Infant and Junior School in Osbaldwick was caught up in the whirl of a media circus after parents were invited in to school to taste the dinners.

About eight parents turned out for a school meals taster session which some dubbed a "PR stunt" by North Yorkshire County Caterers and demanded the right to spot check school dinners.

The school has said that parents can go in any time and try the meals or check their quality if they phone on the morning of the same day if food is required.

A second taste test planned for today was cancelled due to this decision.

But a week on and school business manager Carol Tuck said the no one had been into school to try the food.

Parents at the school have denied intimidating the school cook, Theresa Topping, as part of a row and the session was their chance to put the school meals to the test themselves.

The Press exclusively revealed on October 16 how Mrs Topping claimed she was the victim of a campaign of intimidation.

Mrs Topping has been the school cook at Derwent Infant and Junior School for four years, and claimed over the past months a rogue group of parents had set out to drive her from her job.

She said she had received abusive phone calls at work, which meant the school kitchens had to go ex-directory.

Mrs Topping, 50, said her working life was being made "a nightmare" and her health was suffering as a result.

At last week's taster session Lisa Smith, 25, whose five-year-old daughter, Jamaine, regularly has dinners at the school, said: "The food is really tasty. Sometimes my daughter likes it and sometimes she doesn't.

"I cook her different foods at home and sometimes she likes them and sometimes she doesn't, so it's the same at school."

At the taster session, Jenny Barker, 44, whose nine-year-old son, Adam, attends the school, was one of a group of around 20 parents who signed a petition calling for healthier school meals.

She said: "We have no complaint with the quality of the food, but we are concerned that the cook keeps changing the menu and not sticking to the menus sent home."

Keith Tillbrook, general manager at North Yorkshire County Caterers, said the menu at Derwent would be reviewed.

He said: "Mrs Topping may put something different on the menu from time to time, but it is just to give the children more choice.

"Quite a lot of school cooks do sometimes tweak the menu and we are going to review the menu we are offering."

Head teacher Carol Torode said parents were welcome to come in at any time and look at the school meals and to try them if they phone on the day to ensure there will be enough food for them.