Elderly campaigners have claimed victory after finding out their hot lunches are staying for good.

Mole Valley Housing Association wanted to end the popular lunches at Silver Court, in Cressall Close, to help cut costs.

But the housing association completed a dramatic U-turn by agreeing to the future of the service at a board meeting last month.

Francis Hatton, 91, who has lived at Silver Court for 10 years, said: "We are all really, really happy the lunches are staying and we are all delighted we have been listened to.

"It was a bit of a worry when they originally announced they were ending the lunches because they are great and you can always ask for more.

"I particularly appreciated having them when we had all the snow because we didn't have to worry about going out to get food."

The residents also don't mind their meal provision charge going up from £9.89 to a maximum of £13.58 per week in April.

Fellow Silver Court resident Joyce Houlgate, 81, said: "We really don't mind the price increase and we told them if they keep the lunches we wouldn't mind paying more.

"It has only gone up by a few pounds so it is not too much to pay extra every week. Most of us here can't cook for ourselves and the food is lovely so we really didn't want to lose our lunches.

"The staff are also brilliant to us so we didn't want to lose them as well, and we are all just glad this whole saga has finally come to an end."

Glynis Gatenby, head of housing services at MVHA, wrote a letter to the residents of Silver Court to break the news.

She said: "The future of lunch services in all five special sheltered schemes has been consulted on with residents and a revised charging structure agreed, which will secure the service at all schemes including Silver Court.

"We are grateful to our residents for their input to the consultation exercise, which has had a very positive outcome."