THOUSANDS of pupils will be offered a free school dinner to promote healthier menus.

Durham County Council will introduce traditional, more nutritious meals in more than 240 schools -and will let youngsters try them for nothing.

Councillors and officials hope that, as well as encouraging healthier eating, more pupils will eat in school canteens rather than visiting the local chip shop or bringing packed lunches.

The free meal day, which could cost more than £12,000, will be held in the next school year after the firm that provides school meals, Scholarest, had its contract extended.

The firm has already taken processed items, such as Turkey Twizzlers, off the menu following TV chef Jamie Oliver's series highlighting the junk food that pupils eat.

County council cabinet member for education Neil Foster said a "more traditional, more nutritious menu" was being introduced.

"To launch the new, traditional menu, we will have a free meal day for all the schools that are inside the contract. No pupil on that day will have to pay for the meal."

A council spokesman said the offer, paid for by the council, Scholarest and the primary care health trusts, would give pupils a chance to try the new menus.

"Examples include roast lamb and mint sauce served with crispy roast potatoes, or tasty chicken and broccoli pasta bake, accompanied by home-made doughballs. The menus include a greater range of fruit, vegetables and salads in order to increase pupils' intake of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and vitamin A."