A 10-year-old girl has been ‘banned’ from having Christmas dinner at school – because her mum failed to book it in time.

Antonia Castillo, of Longwood , will miss out on turkey and all the trimmings with her friends at Lindley Junior School .

Antonia’s gran Kim Gonzalez said her daughter Roxie, 31, had missed the deadline for returning the slip by a couple of days but the school refused to back down.

Kim, 59, of Paddock , said: “Roxie is a busy mum and you don’t always get things right but Antonia shouldn’t be made to suffer for a simple mistake.

“I begged and pleaded with the school but they said the order had already gone in. There’s bound to be someone off ill or surely the food can be made to stretch to one more meal?

“I’m a mum and a grandma used to cooking big meals and you can always make a meal go that bit further. Bah humbug to the school!”

Ten-year-old Antonia Castillo - with grandma Kim Gonzalez - is unable to have Christmas Lunch at Lindley Junior School because she paid too late

Antonia usually takes a packed lunch to school but wanted the £2 Christmas dinner as a treat.

“Christmas dinner is Antonia’s favourite meal of the year,” said Kim. “She is the only child I know who loves sprouts.

“The school said she can still sit with her friends but that’s even worse. They’ll be tucking into turkey, pigs in blankets and sprouts while she’s having sandwiches.”

To rub salt in the wounds, the school has just contacted mum-of-three Roxie to say she is £11 in credit for school meals.

“The school won’t back down and it’s unfair on Antonia,” said Kim. “She is a good little girl who goes out of her way not to cause trouble.”

The Christmas lunch is on Friday and Kim said she will keep Antonia off school that day and take her out for a special Christmas dinner.

“They can fine me or take me to court but that’s what I’m going to do,” said Kim.

Lindley Junior School, Huddersfield

Head teacher Mrs Catherine Jubbs said the school sent a letter home giving parents three weeks to respond. The deadline was Wednesday December 2 but Ms Castillo did not send the reply until the following Monday.

Mrs Jubbs said the school was usually very flexible over lunches but a special order had to be made for Christmas dinner.

The school is serving 470 Christmas dinners and with 496 children on the school roll Antonia wasn’t the only one to miss out.

“If we say yes to one we may have to say yes to 15 and that will be difficult for the ladies in the kitchen,” said Mrs Jubbs. “As well as 470 lunches for our children we also cook 120 meals for a Calderdale school.

“We are very sorry but on this occasion we have to draw a line somewhere.”