COUNCILLORS came under fire for voting to scrap annual school uniform grants as part of the County Hall cutbacks.

Lancashire County Council axed the grants after its education chiefs were told to save around £269,000 a year.

Opposition councillors said the decision went against everything that a Labour administration should believe in.

They said it would leave already hard-up families facing increasing hardship.

The authority, which provides schooling for 177,000 children, including those in Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, called on schools to offer systems for second-hand uniforms to be passed on.

The £90-a-year grants were discretionary and available to families on benefits.

But many councils across the country do not offer the grants.

Conservative councillor Geoff Driver told the full council meeting: "The people who receive these grants are among the most hard-up in Lancashire.

"This decision really does hit the most vulnerable people.

"The grants were for pupils making the move from primary to secondary schools, which is one of the most expensive times in any family's life.

"I cannot believe this has come from Labour, a supposedly socialist party."

Defending the decision, Coun Alan Whittaker, education chief, said inexpensive uniforms can now be bought from many supermarkets.

He added: "The grant that was there was discretionary, I must stress that.

"People can pick up school trousers for £4, and packs of four socks for just £1.

"This year's budget has been difficult and we had to make savings."