A FAST food van owner has hit back at claims he is undermining a school’s healthy eating policy.

Mehmet Yilmaz believes complaints about his First Class Diner van in Warneford Lane, Oxford, are unfounded.

It comes after Oxford City Council agreed to review his licence after receiving 33 complaints about the van, which serves burgers, kebabs and breakfast baguettes.

Mr Yilmaz, 41, from Swindon, said: “I don’t think the food I serve is unhealthy – we have salad and other food.

“We are also not close to the school and most of our customers are adults.”

His comments come after parents and teachers at nearby Cheney School criticised the decision to give it a licence because it “undermines school policy”.

Oxford City Council granted a licence for the van to trade between 7am and 3am from April 1, but staff and parents are concerned about its influence on children’s eating habits.

Headteacher Jolie Kirby said: “As a school we work tirelessly to provide high quality, affordable and healthy food to our school community. To have this undermined by the provision of fast, unhealthy food and drinks so near our doorstep is very frustrating.”

Food served at Cheney School includes freshly-made soups, salads and baguettes.

The ouncil has confirmed it has received 33 complaints since May 16.

Oxfordshire’s director of public health, Dr Jonathan McWilliam, said: “I welcome the debate this issue has caused.

“Individuals and schools have to make their own choices when it comes to contentious issues and it is not for me to tell people what they should eat and what they should not eat,” he added.

Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for public health, Hilary Biles, added: “It is essential that we pass on healthy eating habits to our children – perhaps the burger van could be moved to a more appropriate site.”

Mother Emma Plugge , a university research lecturer from Cowley Road, said: “It’s just not a good idea – given the fact that obesity is a huge issue, that kids from the most deprived backgrounds are likely to buy fast food and that the van is situated near one of Oxford’s largest secondary schools.”

A review meeting of the city council’s licensing and registration sub-committee will take place on Wednesday at 5.30pm at the Town Hall, in St Aldate's.