Hot school meals are unlikely to return in West Sussex even though primary schools will be able to go it alone in less than two years.

The prediction came from the head of the county council's education service, whose department is preparing to advise schools about the options available when the controversial packed-lunch contract comes to an end.

Schools will be consulted next year about the choices available to them from August 2003, which will include staying with County Hall, reopening kitchens or buying hot meals from outside caterers.

Education director Richard Bunker said he believed the cost of going it alone and the legal responsibilities would "probably prove unattractive to most schools."

The county council found itself at the centre of a storm of protest in 1999 when it axed hot meals and started selling packed lunches.

Many school kitchens have since been converted into classrooms and libraries.

Mr Bunker said schools that want to bring back hot meals could face a bill of up to £100,000 for building and equipping a kitchen.

They would also have to train staff and meet health and safety laws.

But he has promised that schools wanting to make the move will be given advice about creating a business plan for their new service.

The county still comes under fire from some parents over the 1999 meals decision but Mr Bunker said it was justified to prevent "significant cuts" in the classroom.

He said the county council faced a £3 million contract increase to keep meals at a time when 75 per cent of primary pupils were already taking a packed lunch to school.

Mr Bunker said schools going it alone will have the freedom to fix their own prices for hot meals but it will be down to them to provide free meals for children whose families qualify for benefits and also for meeting Government nutritional standards.