A nursery is embroiled in a religious and racial row after a mother accused the manager of 'starving' her 5-year-old child due to concerns meat in her packed lunch was not halal.

Ofsted is investigating Kingswood Day Care Nursery in Mitcham after single mum and former nursery worker Yasmin Jackson, 24, reported the incident on Monday.

And police are now investigating possible race and religious offences in comments sent to the nursery after ultra right wing group Britain First publicised the incident.

Acting on instructions from Merton Council to provide a packed lunch, Ms Jackson took her daughter, Amari, for her first day at the Miles Road nursery with a chicken salad sandwich, houmous, carrots and a chocolate bar in her lunch box.

But when Ms Jackson collected Amari in the afternoon, she was horrified to find her child hadn't been allowed to eat it.

She told the Wimbledon Guardian: "When I picked her up at the end of the day the first thing she said to me was, 'mummy I'm really hungry, can I have my lunch now?'

"I went to speak to the manager and I said why wasn't my daughter allowed her lunch and she said we didn't know it was healthy.

"And she said the form was wrong, you weren't meant to send a lunch as it is provided here. We gave her a small portion of spaghetti pasta and an apple. And she said we didn't know if it's halal.

"I said we are a Christian family and it was a chicken sandwich.

"And she said we don't allow any non-halal meat in the nursery. So I thought this is just ridiculous."

Ms Jackson said Amari, who was in care for three and a half years, has a history of eating difficulties which have only recently improved.

Angered by the day's events, Miss Jackson posted a story on Facebook, where it was shared by friends and picked up by Britain First.

Formed in 2011 by former British National Party (BNP) and English Defence League (EDL) members, the party made headlines this year by invading mosques around the UK.

Nearly 1,000 people supporters have 'liked' of commented on Britain First's account of the nursery story on Facebook.

But Ms Jackson said: "I saw Britain First have written about it but I didn't like their page. I have got Muslim friends who are more pissed off at the way she has portrayed the religion. They are not meant to force it on others."

Following the incident, the nursery has suspended its website and reported racially and religiously aggravate electronic communications to the police.

Afsheen Siddik, nursery manager, said: "I deny the untrue and false allegations that have been made against myself and Kingswood Day Care Nursery.

"As a result I have informed Ofsted and the police who are currently dealing with this matter. "We work closely with parents to provide a high standard you would expect for your child.

"We treat each child as an individual and provide them with equal opportunities and meet all ethical standards."

She would not comment on the nursery's packed lunch policy.

Ms Jackson said: "I will send Amari to another play centre if the social worker can find her one. But I 'd rather not have a further incident of my five-year-old starved. I wouldn't do it to her and I don't expect anyone else to."

Kingswood Day Care Nursery provides care for children aged three months to five years and was rated as 'good' in the most recent Ofsted inspection.

A police spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that officers in Merton have received a complaint of racially and religiously aggravated communications sent to the said location which are also a matter of investigation.

"At this time officers in Merton are liaising with local partners and Ofsted."

Merton Council said it is unaware of any complaints made about the school.