Parents have spoken of their 'disgust' after a primary school announced they are to start serving children Halal-only meat.

Portland Primary Academy in Bilborough, Nottinghamshire, sent out a letter last week informing mums and dads of the changes to school meals.

This included a switch to all chicken now being halal - a method which slaughters animals in line with Islamic law - from Monday.

Portland Primary Academy in Bilborough, Nottinghamshire, sent out a letter last week informing parents that they are to start serving children Halal-only meat

But angry parents have criticised the move and claim they should have a say in whether their children eat halal food or not.

Others say it has put kids off eating meat altogether after being told about the method of slaughter, which involves the animal's throat being sliced by a Muslim and blood drained from the carcass.

Jenni Tyas, a full-time mum from Bilborough, who sends two of her four children, aged eight and 11, to the school, said: 'It's disgusting. There should be a choice and we should have been consulted over it in the first place.

'When I saw what it said on the letter, I sat down and explained to my children what halal meat was, and how the animal was killed, and they said they didn't want to eat it any more.

'The school have left it up to us to have a horrible conversation with our children to describe what halal meat is.

'That is not a conversation a parent should have to have with their young children.

'A friend of mine rang up to ask and the school said they can't do anything about it because they've changed suppliers.

'Vegetarians have the choice so why don't children who eat meat have the ability to make choices too.

Some parents say it has put kids off eating meat altogether after being told about the method of slaughter, which involves the animal's throat being sliced by a Muslim and blood drained from the carcass

'Everyone pays the same for school meals so why aren't we allowed equal rights.

'A lot of parents agree feel the same and have been down to the school to speak about it.

'I've been having to send them in with packed lunches, but they want a warm dinner during the winter.'

Leanne Poxon, 28, a warehouse worker, from Bilborough, sends her four children to the school.

She added: 'I think it's disgusting that my children haven't been given the option.

'We should have been informed that the school had changed suppliers, but we weren't.

'I've put my children on packed lunches now because of the principle that they haven't told us.

'I watched a video about how halal meat is slaughtered and I just don't agree with it.

'Muslim children would never be forced to eat non-Halal meat, so why are my children being forced to eat halal meat?

The definition of halal, as described by the Halal Food Authority, 'requires animals to be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter, since carrion is forbidden and, jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe have to be severed by a razor sharp knife by a single swipe'

'But it's not about religion, I just don't like how they do it.'

Steven Briggs, 30, whose 10-year-old daughter attends the school, added: 'My little girl is an animal lover and when I had to explain to her what halal meat she was horrified.

'It's causing conflict between parents and the school.'

The definition of halal, as described by the Halal Food Authority, 'requires animals to be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter, since carrion is forbidden and, jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe have to be severed by a razor sharp knife by a single swipe, to incur as less pain as possible.'

The blood is then drained out of the animal, as the Qur'an forbids the consumption of blood.

In a statement, the school said: 'Due to a change in our supplier's arrangements, our supplier has confirmed from Monday that all chicken meat will be halal, all other meat is not halal.

'Any changes advised by the supplier will be communicated to the community through our website.'