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Pork has been taken off menus at primary schools in a north London borough because it costs too much to monitor which children are allowed to eat it, a council has said.

Islington Council has ruled that it is too expensive to check whether pupils in its primary schools can eat sausages, bacon and pork chops due to their religious beliefs.

A council spokesman said ensuring Muslim and Jewish children were not eating the meat represented an "unnecessary cost at a time of tight budgets".

Despite the move, pork will still be served in the borough's secondary schools.

The decision has attracted criticism from some local traders.

Chris Godfrey, owner of Godfrey's butchers in Highbury Park, said he thought it was "disgusting" that the needs of some children were being put ahead of the majority.

He told the Standard: "I think it is disgusting that they do not have pork on the menu.

"There are so many religions in this country and if listened to all of them then you would not eat anything.

"We are pandering to other religions too much - kids that don't eat pork should take packed lunches. It is not up to us to pander to their requirements."

He added: "I thought everyone was meant to be integrating into our society?"

David Mayers, owner of Highbury Butchers on Blackstock Road, said it would not affect his business directly but felt it was an "unnecessary" move.

He said: "We serve local nurseries - they do not have any pork either because there are Muslims.

"It is unnecessary. Pork is quite cheap anyway. You are stopping other children from having it."

But councillor Joe Caluori, the council’s executive member for children and families, defended the move, saying it would cut costs and food waste.

He said: "By not having pork on the menus in our schools, we can keep down costs and reduce food waste, maximising the schools meal budget in tough financial circumstances.

"We meet regularly with our catering contractor and stakeholders, and feedback is that schools are very happy with the food offered by the service."

Islington said they removed pork from menus as far back as 2011. It is thought some schools in the borough who opted out of using the council's catering provider are still serving pork.

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