Council apologises after giving Michelin star chef child labour warning after his children help make meals for NHS

A council has apologised after giving a Michelin starred chef a child labour warning after he posted photographs of his family making free meals for the NHS.

Andrew Pern, 50, who runs The Star Inn the City and Mr P's Curious Tavern in York, was featured on the television after he and his children, aged 15 and 21, spent their free time cooking the dinners.

Despite the fact the charity work was done in their own home and not on his restaurant premises, the council sent him a letter warning of child labour.

North Yorkshire County Council's Child Employment team wrote: : “It has been brought to my attention that following a recent news interview with BBC Look North it appeared that there were children helping out in your commercial kitchen at The Star Inn, Harome.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to offer you some guidance relating to child employment and have enclosed an information leaflet for your perusal.”

Mr Pern shared the letter on social media, writing: “Two of my children were helping out for free. They were sanitised and gloved up. Common sense?”

He underlined the children were actually “working" in their own home where the family has lived for 24 years.

Local Cllr Joe Plant responded, writing: "Having contacted NYCC yesterday, I am now aware someone spoke to Mrs Pern yesterday afternoon to apologise.

"You will also receive a letter of an apology.

"It has been a misjudgment and I am sorry this happened to you when team Andrew are doing an amazing job."

Jane le Sage, assistant director for inclusion with children and young people’s services, said: “We would like to apologise for the letter sent to Andrew Pern regarding child employment, which was not appropriate in the circumstances.

"We have a statutory duty to make sure employers are aware of the laws in place to protect children and young people in the workplace – and the council officer involved in this case was doing her job.

"We acknowledge that a letter was not an appropriate response in this case and we have been in contact with the Pern family to offer our apologies.”