A question mark hangs over what will happen to hundreds of vulnerable people when the county's existing meals-on-wheels contract ends on March 31.

Gloucestershire County Council has said it remains committed to providing the vital service but with just four days to go has failed to provide answers about who will be taking it over in some areas.

It has known since before Christmas it needed to find a solution after previous provider Apetito said it would not bid for a new contract.

The council received no other tenders for the service and has been looking for interim ways to provide hot meals for the next six months to around 480 people, while a longer term, sustainable solution is found.

Punchline first contacted the council two weeks ago to ask for an update about whether the necessary providers had been found but promised answers have not appeared.

The last update came from a meeting on March 7 when Professor Sarah Scott, director of adult social care for Gloucestershire, said providers had been found for the Forest of Dean, Stroud and South Cotswolds. But she said it was "struggling" to fill gaps in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and North Cotswolds.

She told members of the Adult Social Care and Communities Scrutiny Committee the council was "absolutely not stopping the contract" and added: "We are still completely committed to finding a resolution for a hot plated meals service post March 31. What we are finding is that the offer will look different across the county."

It has been trying to contact every service user to explain the situation and looking at options such as delivering frozen meals and sending in helpers to heat them up.

Professor Scott said: "Without doubt this is going to cost more than the budget allocation I've got so it creates a significant cost pressure for us.

"What we will have from April is a mix of different providers across the country but our ultimate aim is to make sure the people who need a hot plated meal get it."

It is one of the few councils that still provides the service, which is not a statutory requirement, and was paying Apetito a subsidy of £1.99 per two-course meal.

During the pandemic, the council increased the number of meals provided and paid for, due to family support systems breaking down. But once Covid restrictions ended it decided to reduce that number back to previous levels.