Young diners at a five-star hotel will be charged for their Sunday meal according to how much they weigh.

Under the scheme at Oulton Hall Hotel, those aged up to 15 will be invited to step on the scales. If they weight 5st, their parents will have to pay £5, and so on.

Managers insist the idea is a 'bit of fun' and a novel way to help parents beat the credit crunch.

Big idea: Oulton Hall Hotel near Leeds is charging children according to their weight

But child obesity expert Professor Paul Gateley said: 'What child wants to be pulled on to scales and judged? The undoubted outcome is that they will feel bad.

'It's especially likely to upset girls, who tend to become aware of their weight as early as seven.'

Bosses at the Oulton Hall Hotel in Leeds say the scheme starting next month will be voluntary.

But children who refuse to be weighed will incur a set charge of £11.25 - half the adult cost.

Prof Gateley, who has run the 'fat camp' near Leeds for nine years, added: 'In any case, the assumption that because of your age or weight you eat more or less simply doesn't stack up scientifically. It's been very poorly thought through all round.'

Oulton Hall spokesman Nigel Massey said: 'There will no doubt be people who say it's not politically correct and have a grumble about it. Well, frankly they should get a life and stop being so miserable.'

The idea came from hotel general manager Sean Boyce, who wanted to help cut the cost of dining out.

Mr Massey said: 'He felt that with the credit crunch it was hard enough for families to be able to eat out so he came up with the slightly tongue-in-cheek idea that anyone under the age of 15, who would like to be weighed, could pay on the basis of their weight.

'It's entirely voluntary and done with a grin and a sense of fun. It is not meant to offend anyone, or to be hurtful and is not a statement on child obesity. All it is is a chance for mum and dad to save money.'