Patients at Bristol's only adult hospice could be served warmed up frozen ready meals instead of freshly-prepared food.

Kitchen staff at St Peter's Hospice fear for their jobs after they heard the organisation is considering a move to buy in frozen meals rather than preparing them in-house.

Bosses at the charity, which provides care for adults with cancer and other terminal illnesses, would not comment on the claims because they are part of a review of services that has not been completed.

But sources close to the hospice claimed that representatives from cook and chill companies have been visiting hospice managers and board members to demonstrate the food they can offer.

As previously reported in the Evening Post, St Peter's is considering a move from its original hospice site in Knowle because the building is no longer suitable.

The charity is considering a move to a purpose-built site at Hengrove Park, near the site of the South Bristol Community Hospital and is currently conducting a feasibility study into moving the service.

Chief executive Sandie Foxall-Smith has said it would cost the charity at least £300,000 over the next 12 to 18 months to patch up the building at Knowle and that donations could be better used by St Peter's.

A source close to the hospice, who did not wish to be named, said that a leak to catering staff at the hospice suggested their jobs may go as part of cost-cutting measures, with a move to chilled ready-made meals that would be delivered to the hospice.

He said: "People have been seen coming into the hospice to measure the kitchen and carrying out food tastings.

"Patients who are terminally ill with cancer and other conditions have been treated for years to freshly cooked food from a varied menu prepared by the hospice's own staff.

"The cost-cutting exercise will see patients served with frozen food from a van, like food served in hospitals around the region.

"This move is a shock to St Peter's catering staff as the organisation is not in any financial difficulty at the present time."

Ms Foxall-Smith would not comment specifically on whether meals would be affected as part of the review.

She said: "In the current economic climate businesses and charities are not immune to change and we have a responsibility to ensure that the money donated by the people of Bristol is used to help as many people as possible with terminal illnesses.

"We have not completed the review of services or the feasibility study for a new site in south Bristol so we have made no decisions as yet regarding staffing levels or services.

"Our main priority is to put the patients first."