IT IS clear that the school meals provision for Dorset’s children has been nothing short of a complete fiasco.

It beggars belief that all parties involved, in particular Dorset County Council and catering company Chartwells, could not get their act together.

It should not have come to the point where, on the first days of the new school year, youngsters found themselves eating take away lunches.

Moreover, it appears that smaller, local, providers were overlooked.

An apology is welcome, but it might be seen as too little, too late by many.