The Meals on Wheels service used by 500 OAPs in Oxfordshire is being phased out.

The service, which has been funded by the county council and provided by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service since the 1940s, will end on March 31.

Social services bosses are replacing hot meals for those living in their own homes with a frozen meals service.

They say staff will take the opportunity to assess pensioners' social needs while changes take place over the next five months.

Tine Rees, the council's community care services manager, said: "We have been through this process once already, when the service ended in Bicester and Kidlington during the summer, and we know that the alternatives really are practical. People have been very satisfied. No-one will be left without a meal."

Ms Rees said it had been difficult to replace WRVS volunteers when they retired but added that changes were not being implemented in order to cut costs.

"Any savings made will be put back into providing the alternative service," she said.

"We understand that some people will still need help getting their meals and that support will remain in place."

Finishing dates for hot meals are as follows: Witney (November 3), Abingdon (November 24), Banbury (November 24), Henley (December 8), Didcot (December 21), Faringdon (January 26, 2001), Wantage (January 26, 2001), Thame (February 9, 2001), and Oxford (March 31, 2001).

Social services bosses say the new system will offer people more control over the meals they have and when they want to eat, over a seven-day period. Options include:

**The chance to join a lunch club or day centre.

**Delivery of batches of frozen meals. Support, training and equipment will be provided for people to prepare their food.

**Delivery of frozen meals with care workers calling to assist preparation where people cannot manage on their own.

Ms Rees added: "We regret this change has to come.

"We will ensure that everyone's needs are met and we hope they will take the opportunity to benefit from this new approach."