Two eight-year-olds have written to the Prime Minister to demand their school milk back.

Melody Greenwood and Jamie Price are cousins and attend Holycroft Primary School, in Keighley.

They decided to write their plea to Tony Blair after letters were sent out to parents informing them of a change in Local Education Authority policy on school milk. The letter told parents that after Easter there would not be milk available for children in years three, four, five and six.

All nursery and reception-age children -- three and four-year-olds --- will continue to get free milk, along with children who are eligible for free school meals. Parents at Holycroft were told that the cost per term of a carton of milk per day will rise from £4 to £5.

Milk is seen as a vital diet supplement and the cousins asked Mr Blair to re-instate milk saying, "We are growing children and we need calcium for strong teeth and bones.'

They signed their letter "from two angry eight-year-olds".

Melody's mother Michelle said: "The rise in cost is not the issue but there should definitely be milk available for children in years three and above. We are talking about children over the age of five who won't be getting their milk. We used to pay per term and every year would get milk.

"My biggest worry is for the children of families on income support who relied on the school milk and who might not get it otherwise."

Head teacher Andrew Neal said: "We won't be providing milk for children above year two, but we will be having a meeting with parents after Easter to discuss the issue of hydration and healthy eating for children."

Bradford Council is blaming the increased cost on the European Union cutting its milk subsidy.

Councillor David Ward, executive member for education, said: "The EU's decision to cut its school milk subsidy is obviously disappointing, however we have done everything possible to ensure that children across Bradford have access to milk at school. Although milk costs are increasing for some parents, milk bought at school is still cheaper than anywhere else. In fact it works out at just above 8p per day for a third of a pint."