Controversial plans to axe hot food from the meals on wheels service have been labelled 'disgusting'.

Lancashire County Council (LCC) is looking into replacing the daily hot meals service with a weekly delivery of frozen ones.

The cost-cutting move has led to fears that, without that daily contact, elderly people becoming at risk and increasingly isolated.

The county council provides meals to more than 5,000 people, delivered by private firms and voluntary groups, such as the WRVS.

The council is looking to save £9.9m. One proposal involves replacing the daily hot meal with a frozen one, which would save around £1.25m.

Mark Davidson, territorial manager for WRVS, said volunteers were trained to carry out 'safe and well' checks while delivering meals and could notify social services of problems.

"If people are getting a hot meal delivered it means they are getting one-to-one contact, cutting that to once a week, I think it's disgusting. The contact is equally if not more important than the meal, it's about regular social interaction."

An LCC spokesman said: "We are looking at a number of proposals including considering replacing hot meals with frozen meals delivered once a week and reviewing charges for people to meet the full cost of meals where appropriate.

"This would give older people and others who receive meals at home more choice in what meals they wish to eat and when."

The decision on the proposed cuts will be made at a full county council meeting on February 16.