Hot meals delivered daily to hundreds of elderly people by Birmingham social services may be replaced by microwaveable frozen food.

The suggestion is one of several possibilities being considered as part of a major shake-up of the city council's meals-on-wheels service.

A consultation paper approved by the cabinet yesterday suggests that people without a microwave or freezer could be loaned equipment by the council and told how to prepare meals.

Alternatively, almost 1,500 clients receiving meals could be "signposted" to the independent sector, the cabinet was told.

Council officials will mount a consultation exercise before the contract to provide meals expires next March.

The proposed changes stem from a steady decline in the number of people requiring traditional meals.

Between 1995 and 2005 the demand for hot meals fell by 200,000 a year.

Under the present contractual arrangements the council pays an in-house team to provide 505,000 meals a year, split on a 75 per cent hot and 25 per cent frozen basis.

However, social services has to pay for 375,000 hot meals whether they are all required or not. The financial position is unsustainable, according to the cabinet report.

Cabinet social care member Sue Anderson insisted the review had nothing to do with cutting costs.

Coun Anderson (Lib Dem Sheldon) said: "It is about providing a better service and making sure our elderly people do get a balanced diet by whatever method possible.

"If we are talking about looking after older people then good food, good nutrition, exercise and a balanced diet is very important."