FREE food prescriptions for coeliacs in Oxfordshire will be cut following a review.

It had been planned to completely stop gluten-free food prescriptions in a bid to save £350,000 a year.

But the county’s Clinical Commissioning Group yesterday announced it would continue to prescribe gluten-free bread and flour to coeliacs in the county.

Oxfordshire patients are currently able to receive free staple foods – including pasta cereals and crackers – on prescription.

The changes will come into effect on October 1.

Bill Buckingham, a 91-year-old coeliac from Rose Hill, is currently prescribed bread and cornflakes.

He said: “At least I will still get my bread, but it’s disappointing they’re stopping the cornflakes.”