"I always used to look forward to my meals-on-wheels - the dinner ladies were lovely. I don't have anyone coming around now."

These were the words of Pat Waterworth, 88, from Bootham, York, speaking about her sadness at losing her hot meals-on-wheels service.

Miss Waterworth - who lives alone - used to receive meals twice a week, but in March her meals were cancelled, with a week's notice.

She said a City of York Council worker came to assess how she would cope without the hot meal service.

She was told the service would finish the following week, and that she could get a carer if necessary.

"I don't want a carer yet, but I do miss the company of the dinner ladies," she said.

She was offered a frozen meal alternative, but said she could not take it because she does not have a freezer space big enough to store the £13.50 meal packages.

Miss Waterworth had a foot operation in January, and her feet still cause her pain. "If I could do my own shopping and cooking, I would, but I can't," she said. "I can't even go to the shops down the street."

Her niece, who lives in Harrogate, goes shopping for her once a week.

The 88-year-old cooks a hot meal for herself at the weekend, but now survives on sandwiches for much of the week.

Keith Martin, head of adult services for the council, said the authority carried out annual reviews of individual need against the eligibility criteria.

"A number of people, who have been receiving meals for a couple of days each week, have been preparing their own meals for the remainder of the week," he said.

"In these situations, people are offered information about, and access to, our frozen meals service."

Winnie Starkey, 79, a WRVS volunteer, used to deliver Miss Waterworth's meals. She said: "It is the fact that someone cares enough for them to call round with a hot meal, a cheery smile, and a few words of comfort and caring. That's the important thing."

Updated: 10:18 Thursday, April 20, 2006