PRIME Minister Tony Blair yesterday pledged Government action to improve the standard of school meals following a crusade launched by chef Jamie Oliver.

The poor standard of some food served to the nation's children was highlighted during the chef's Channel 4 series, Jamie's School Dinners, partly filmed at Eden Community Primary School, in Peterlee, County Durham.

Yesterday, the Government revealed it is drawing up plans to spend tens of millions of pounds to rebuild and re-equip school kitchens so fresh meals can be cooked on site, and catering staff will be given additional training to help them create appetising menus.

Writing in The Observer, Mr Blair gave his support to the issues raised in Mr Oliver's television series, in which the chef was shocked to discover some children could not identify common vegetables yet were highly familiar with fast food chain insignia.

Meanwhile, expert nutritionists pointed out that at 37p for an average main course, school meals cost less than a tin of dog food.

In response, the Prime Minister has promised to set up an independent School Food Trust to build on the chef's work in the series.

It forms part of a mini "children's manifesto" expected to be published today, outlining Labour's pitch to parents on issues ranging from diets to paedophiles targeting children through the Internet.

Mr Blair spoke of Mr Oliver's "remarkable work" in the schools he visited, and said the initiative would encourage the use of organic and local produce in school meals, and take advice on nutritious ways to eliminate processed foods.

"It may take a little time to change children's tastes, but it will be worth the effort if we can get them enjoying healthy and good quality food at school," Mr Blair said.

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly added her support for the initiative and praised the "incredibly valuable service" provided by Mr Oliver.

The chef said he was pleased the Government appeared poised to take action, but that he would wait to look at the plans more closely before commenting further.

Meanwhile, Eden Community Primary School's headteacher, Yvonne Ryle, said the school plans to introduce its own changes to meals in the next academic year.

The school has opted out of the Durham county school meals contract from September and is going to make its own arrangements.

Mrs Ryle said: "We are going to go back to the way school dinners used to be cooked, using fresh ingredients, with no processed food and E numbers.

"Apart from the health benefits, it should make the children less hyperactive and more attentive in lessons."

Mrs Ryle hopes it will see numbers of youngsters having school meals at the 420-pupil school rise from 250.

Mr Oliver's missionary zeal in the TV series has persuaded one family of junk food addicts to change their eating habits.

The 11-strong Measor family has lost a combined total of more than four stones since Mr Oliver's visit to Peterlee, when he spent time at their home scrutinising their diet.

Mother Janice Measor said she noticed the difference within days and said the visit had helped transform the family's lives.