A DISGRUNTLED dad left furious at a school’s policy to ‘police’ children’s packed lunches - and ban sausage rolls - has started an online petition in a last stand against the decision.

Steve Fryer said his “fussy eater” son fell victim to a new ‘whole food and drink policy’ at Shirley Manor Primary Academy in Wyke when a sausage roll and chocolate biscuit were confiscated from his lunchbox.

The policy states: “Pork pies, sausage rolls, pepperoni sticks are high in salt and saturated fat. These items should not be included in a pupils packed lunchbox.

“If found a parent will be called.

“Desserts, cakes, biscuits and crisps: these foods are high in saturated fat, sugar and salt – too much of these foods can be harmful to health. If a pupil has more than one of these items in their lunchbox they will be removed by staff and returned to the child at the end of the day.”

Amid the uproar, the school said the “vast majority” of parents supported the policy and there had been an increase in the number of children eating healthy packed lunches.

But Mr Fryer, 52, who has become the ‘poster parent’ in speaking out against the school rules, is now petitioning the Government about the policy.

At the time of writing it had been signed 104 times since going live at the weekend.

“If they just met us half way and let the kids eat what they want a couple of days a week,” he said.

“They should not be touching kid’s lunchboxes.”

But he admitted: “They are not going to back down. I don’t think it’s going to get anywhere.They can do what they want and we can’t do anything about it.”

In an online poll on the Telegraph & Argus website, 70 per cent of people disagreed with the school’s action.

While schools are required to provide meals in line with the Government’s School Food Standards, they set their own packed lunch policies.

The school said it had no further comment to make but Councillor David Warburton (Lab, Wyke), who is a governor at the school, said he “fully supported” the policy.

“It’s important the school leads on something like this," he said.

"It’s helpful for the kids in that if they get proper, healthy meals, it helps them concentrate more in school. I fully support the head teacher with what they are doing.”