A FIRM which supplied school dinners to schools across Richmondshire and Hambleton has gone into liquidation, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

Catering company P%A Food Management Services Limited, based in Carthorpe, Bedale, has informed schools and other businesses it supplied meals to that it had ceased trading.

According to its last accounts the company employed around 420 people and had an annual turnover of more than £10 million.

It is understood the company supplied school dinners to a number of schools in North Yorkshire and elsewhere across the UK, with schools told this afternoon it had stopped trading.

Among the the schools its supplied was The Wensleydale School, in Leyburn.

In a letter to parents, headteacher Julia Polly said: “Late this afternoon, we have been informed that the catering company P&A, who supply our meals have gone into liquidation with immediate effect.

“Therefore can all students please bring packed lunch on Monday 2 March.

“We will provide students who are in receipt of free school meals with a sandwich lunch.

Colburn Primary School and Leyburn Primary School also use P&A. They have also advised parents to organise packed lunches for children.

The P&A website has been suspended, according to a message displayed on what should be the home screen.

North Yorkshire County Council said it was unable to comment until next week, although a spokeswoman said it supplied school dinners to the majority of schools in Hambleton and Richmondshire.