Girl, 9, banned from taking photos of school lunches for her blog

A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl whose blog about school lunches notched up more than two million views has been banned from taking photos of her meals.

Martha Payne started the NeverSeconds blog six weeks ago, posting images and opinions about lunch at her school’s cafeteria in Lochgilphead, Argyll.

She has also used the site to raise more than £3,000 for Mary’s Meals, a charity helping communities where poverty and hunger prevent children from gaining an education.

Its supporters have included celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

After the ruling by Argyll and Bute Council, Martha posted “I was told that I could not take any more photos of my school dinners because of a headline in a newspaper today.

“I only write my blog, not newspapers, and I am sad I am no longer allowed to take photos.”

Martha’s father, Dave, also wrote on the blog: “I felt it’s important to add a few bits of info to the blog. Martha’s school have been brilliant and supportive from the beginning and I’d like to thank them all.

“It is a shame that a blog that today went through two million hits, which has inspired debates at home and abroad and raised nearly £2,000 (now over £3,000) for charity, is forced to end.”

Argyll and Bute Council said it “wholly refutes the unwarranted attacks on its schools catering service” and added that national headlines had led catering staff “to fear for their jobs”.