BEEF could soon be back on the menu for St Helens schoolchildren.

The council's Policy and Resources Committee has agreed to lift its ban, imposed during the BSE crisis.

Councillors have insisted that parents of schoolchildren and other people who eat at council facilities should be consulted about the move before it is put into effect.

Colin Hilton, Director of Education and Leisure Services, told the committee: "We will consult with parents through established procedures with each individual school and we will embark on this as quickly as possible so it can happen before Christmas."

The committee agreed that all future contracts should include a clause that all beef products should only be supplied from cattle born or imported into Great Britain since July, 1996.

The ban on beef and beef products being used in its catering was imposed by the council in December, 1995.

Committee chairman, Councillor Marie Rimmer, said: "In view of the lifting of the worldwide ban on UK beef, we felt it was time to review our policy. However, we are anxious that people who use our catering services should be consulted first. This will be done as quickly as possible."

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