WAVERLEY'S Meals- on-Wheels service could face an uncertain future, according to a report to Waverley Borough Council.

The current service "could be unsustainable within the next five years or so, if the decline in numbers of meals sold continues at the same rate", said a Waverley report presented to councillors at their full council meeting this week.

The warning comes in a document on the findings of the Best Value fundamental service review team of the service.

It makes recommendations for improvements to the service, planned to start this year, and looks at the possibilities of competitive tendering.

Only two per cent of the 20 per cent of the area's total population over retirement age receive Meals-on-Wheels.

Run by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service since 1995, the service is grant aided by the borough council.

Around 98,000 main meals are delivered annually, but despite increases in numbers of elderly people in the local population, the actual number of meals delivered has dropped by some 15 per cent in the last four years.

"Meals-on-Wheels is seen as a last resort and potential customers are using the wide range of frozen and ready meals available in supermarkets," councillors were told in the report to the meeting.

Some 500 WRVS volunteers deliver the meals through the Waverley district, but the report said the likely reduction in the number of volunteers was set to have "long-term implications for the sustainability of the service."

With many health care professionals and other interested bodies believing that the social contact with elderly Meals-on-Wheels customers is almost important as the meal itself, concerns were also expressed in the report about food safety, hygiene and health and safety.

Questioned about the meals on offer, a focus group had mixed views on the quality and benefits of the service.

Their biggest worries were over "social isolation", with the group believing that most elderly people would prefer community transport to enable them to eat at a day centre or with others, rather than on their own at home.

The delivery of frozen or chilled meals and cooked meals prepared "in house" by the council or through the private sector was also discussed, as well as the introduction by the WRVS of "Hot Vans" similar to those used by outside suppliers, which are fitted with an oven, freezer and fridge.

The report sets out targets ato improve the service with a timetable for its implementation. These include negotiating with the WRVS to run the service until 2003, investigating a pilot scheme run by an alternative supplier, competitive tendering and increased charges to customers.

Sandra Gilbert from the Haslemere and district Meals-on-Wheels service said: "The problem in Waverley is that it is such a large, widespread rural area and it all comes down to cost."

She added that although more elderly people are being helped to stay in their homes, which includes people coming in to cook for them, "some will still need meals delivered".