A SCHOOLGIRL has become one of the first in the borough to receive a free vegan school meal.

The groundbreaking move follows discussions between parent Laura Chepner and Hazlehurst Primary School and Bury Council after she claims her five-year-old daughter Lois was initially told that because her dietary requirements are a "lifestyle choice", and not down to religion or allergy, she would not be entitled to a free school meal.

After "feeling let down by the system" Ms Chepner, the former owner of Lolo's Vegan Restaurant in Ramsbottom, contacted Councillor Kevin Thomas who supported her plea.

Ms Chepner also wrote a letter to the council highlighting that veganism is a belief supported by the 2010 Human Rights Act, and urging that provision, similar to that for a member of a faith, be put in place.

Bury Council quickly responded with an apology, and set up a meeting where the three parties discussed "veganising" the school's current menu, and invited Ms Chepner to take part in future menu writing.

Ms Chepner said she is "very much looking forward to seeing the changes and is happy to assist."

She added:"I'm delighted with the response, I feel as though the school and the council officers that I met with are very keen to make sure that, within Bury at least, this is something that's going to be available and rolled out across the borough.

"I'm so thrilled that Lois now gets to sit with her peers and that she feels accepted at Hazelhurst, making it a fully inclusive school.

"I'm really excited that this has happened and it has also stoked my fire to make this a national issue."

Ms Chepner is now hoping to use Bury Council's efforts as a benchmark to encourage other borough's around the country to follow suit, through her consultancy business Primary Veducation.

She said: "Bury Council acknowledged the exponential growth of veganism and were happy to embrace this change along with me.

"In my opinion Bury Council has been forward thinking, progressive and more importantly highly inclusive in making this decision."

Bury Council told the Bury Times that all its school meals are compliant with government food standards advice, with ingredients sourced locally where possible.

They also noted that a number of vegan meal pilot schemes have now been launched in the borough.

A council spokesman added: “Our aim is to provide children with high quality, healthy and affordable food choices. We know that fresh and tasty food is fundamental to young people’s health and academic achievement.

“All of our schools offer a meat-based dish and a non-meat alternative each day. Schools also, at the request of parents, offer meals to pupils which meet special dietary or cultural requirements.

“Veganism is becoming more popular, and as such we have been running a trial project for the last nine months with two primary schools – Guardian Angels and Bury and Whitefield Jewish Primary – offering a vegan choice to pupils whose parents request it. We are also now providing vegan meals to particular children at Hazlehurst and Our Lady of Lourdes.

“So far the choice has been limited as these meals have had to be bought in. However, all of our schools will shortly have their own kitchens where meals are produced from scratch on the premises."

The council's move has also been welcome by The Vegan Society, who last month launched a campaign to require vegan food options on all public sector menus daily.

Dominika Piasecka, spokesman for The Vegan Society, said: “We’re delighted to hear that vegan meals were successfully secured for Lois at her school and hope to see more great news like this from vegan children across the UK."

To sign The Vegan Society's petition visit petition.parliament.uk/petitions/228078.