A company which supplies school uniforms to families on low income admitted today it was running out after "miscalculations".

The Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation is due to stop providing the clothes for youngsters in March after Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Carderdale and Kirklees Council decided to change the contract and stick to other lines. The company is able to supply the clothes at lower cost because it can buy in bulk, and families on low incomes are given vouchers by Bradford Council towards the cost.

But today disabled Lulu Difiori, of Flaxton Green, Fagley, said she had been left in the lurch without warning after going to the company's premises in Piccadilly to try to buy school skirts for her 11-year-old daughter, Helen, who attends St Joseph's School.

Mrs Difiori said: "Nobody has informed us that the system has been changed and I have heard that a lot of other parents, like me, are now having problems. I have complained to the Council and they have given me no alternative."

Barry Crowther, divisional manager of Yorkshire Purchasing, said a decision had been taken last year to stop the clothing because of lack of demand and they were winding down supplies.

But he said some stock had gone quicker than others and they had underestimated. He said they would try to get the skirts from one of their other branches and expected to be able to get more stock.

He said the company would continue to supply other items, particularly those used by education services, after March.

Dennis Williams, Bradford Council's assistant director of education, said: "We have told YPO its contract to supply the school uniforms still has two months to run and it should honour it.

"We are doing everything possible to ensure normal service is resumed as soon as possible.

"Officers are currently preparing a tender document to go out for a contract to replace YPO."