A FOOD expert has been showing people how to create cheap and healthy meals in a series of sessions recently.

Residents of Wheatley Hill near Easington have been attending Healthy Eating on a Budget sessions led by Tony Kelly from Hartlepool College of Further Education.

Participants have been provided with recipes, cooking skills and the chance to learn more about preparing and eating healthy, affordable food. The six free sessions also covered issues such as food labelling and the balance of foods needed in a diet.

Lucy Crystal-Smith, course organiser from the Easington and Sedgefield Specialist Health Promotion Service said: "Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet can have a major positive impact on our health. This course is designed to show people that eating and preparing these foods need not be time consuming and costly."

Wheatley Hill resident Carol Lowther attended all the sessions. She said: "I have found out how to cook food more healthily now. I feel much better for it and plan to continue doing so."