MEALS-on-Wheels has had a dramatic make-over in south Essex.

The local branch of the charity is the first in the country to trial the new community meals service that aims to offer fresher, healthier and most importantly tastier food, in a more flexible way.

Whereas traditional meals-on-wheels are reheated from frozen and delivered hot to be eaten, dishes under the new scheme will be delivered chilled and can be heated up whenever the diner chooses.

The meals-on-wheels service is provided by the charity WRVS, formerly the Women’s Royal Volunteer Service. In Essex there are 600,000 meals provided every year to people in need. But the new scheme which has been launched is called the Tasty Food Company and it is hoped to change the way people view the service.

All the meals are handmade by Sussex-based Castle Kitchens which produce ready meals for supermarket chain Waitrose. They are not just available for older people or those receiving social care, but can be ordered by anyone.

The new menu, which includes everything from Thai green curry to beef stew, went down a treat when it was rolled out for the first time at the charity’s hall in Poplar Road, Canvey, on Tuesday.

A number of the WRVS lunch club regulars tucked into samples of new dishes.

Iris Shippey, 80, said: “It’s all very palatable.

“Some things you like more than others because you have got your own personal tastes. I really liked the lamb.”

WRVS commercial food manager Ian Taylor said: “People we talked to in Essex in their 60s, 70s and 80s told us that they didn’t class themselves as ‘older people’ and didn’t necessarily want meals delivered to them every day.

“But they were interested in meals delivered at home from time to time, perhaps when they hadn’t had time to get to the shops, when they were unwell or just out of hospital or when entertaining friends.”

As well as providing tasty food, the service has another purpose which WRVS head of food Janet Lawrenson thinks is equally important.

She said: “One of the things that is most important is the self and well check.

“When they deliver the meals our drivers will notice how the person receiving the meal is doing and will notify us if they think there is anything wrong.

“There was one gentleman, for example, who would always be immaculately dressed every day but one day when our driver visited he was still in his pyjamas, so the driver notified us.

“It turned out he had a broken hip and didn’t want to say, but we were able to give the help he needed.”

Unlike meals-on-wheels, where users must be referred by the council if it is judged they need support, anyone can sign up for the service.

Ms Lawrenson said: “It can be peace of mind for families if they are living away from elderly relatives.

“If they sign up to the service they know they will also get a check up every day.”

The scheme was developed with Essex County Council to tie in with the introduction of a new system of personal care where care users, including the elderly and mentally or physically disabled, get a budget which they can spend how they like.

Ms Lawrenson explained: “The aim is to give people more choice and freedom and we hope the Tasty Food Company will help them do that.”

Main courses range from £3.50 to £6 and the menu also includes a range of salads, side orders and deserts.

The scheme is being trialled across Southend, Castle Point and Basildon as well as the Loughton area and is set to be introduced in Thurrock soon.

If it is successful WRVS will role it out across the rest of the country.

For more information call 01268 552016 or visit www.thetastyfoodcompany.co.uk