THE battle to save hot meals at Basildon’s day centres took another twist – when a kitchen fan broke, stopping meals being cooked.

The extractor fan at the George Hurd Centre, in Audley Way, broke three weeks ago, preventing cooks using gas to make hot dinners for the over-50s.

Basildon Council has been struggling to find someone to fix the fan so food is having to be transported from the Laindon Centre, in Aston Road.

The day centre offers subsidised hot meals to the elderly and also gives a place for the town’s older generation to meet and socialise, but the service is under threat due to council cuts.

Kenneth Williamson, 83, of The Upway, uses the centre every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. He is disappointed with the meals currently on offer.

He said: “We get food, but it’s not always what people eat.

It’s edible, but not what I would have chosen.”

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: “This is having a minimal impact on the service we offer, as we have a commercial electric microwave and a commercial electric oven.

“We’ve still been serving hot meals, including roast dinners and jacket potatoes, along with the usual mix of salads, snacks and desserts.

“Although there’s been a reduction in some of the menu items, there have been appropriate alternatives provided.

“We’re awaiting one more quote for the extractor fan work, and then it will be replaced as soon as possible.”