ANGRY councillors have called on County Hall bosses to ditch proposals that could force elderly residents to fork out more for meals on wheels or even go hungry.

Residents could be asked to pay 84p a day more for their meals if Essex County Council axes subsidies. That would push the price of each meal up to £4.79 - a hike of £220 a year.

Tendring Council this week passed a motion stating it is “wrong” to propose massive prices increase for the service and called for them to “scrap” the idea.

Pierre Oxley, who put forward the motion, said: “These vulnerable people are on fixed incomes so can’t afford the extra money, which will have to come from their winter fuel allowance.

“It will be a choice between eating or heating their homes at night."

County Hall social care boss Ann Brown previously admitted she was aware that meals on wheels was a “vital” service for some residents.

But she said alternative options has appeared in the market and that it would be difficult to continue to provide the service and provide “value for money for taxpayers”.

A consultation on changes to the service ends on July 7.