GLUTEN free cereals, crackers and pasta will no longer be available on the NHS.

Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has agreed to cut the number of gluten free options it offers by prescription in line with new NHS guidance.

In November the department for health announced that following a consultation gluten free foods on the NHS would be restricted to gluten free bread and gluten free flour mixes.

Bury CCG is now implementing this across the borough.

Gluten free products are prescribed for those with coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis.

The decision to reduce what is on offer comes because of the rise in the availability of gluten free items in shops. Bread is still included because it is considerably more expensive to buy.

However, in Bury since 2016 only those under the age of 19 have been able to get gluten free products on the NHS.

The report on the changes presented to the CCG governing body on Wednesday by Howard Hughes, clinical director, showed that when the age restriction was put in place the CCG went from giving out 425 items a month to just 93, saving itself on average £4,625.