CHERIE Blair raised eyebrows yesterday when she admitted she was considering sending son Leo to school with a packed lunch.

The Prime Minister's wife said she was "seriously considering" the option because the quality of meals at the four-year-old's school was "not terrific".

Her comments, which will put more pressure on the school meals service, were made as Mrs Blair was shown initiatives to promote healthy eating at World's End Junior School, in Birmingham, including a regular breakfast club.

An extra £280m has been pledged by the Government over three years to improve school dinners following a campaign by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Oliver, who also handed in a petition to Downing Street, believes nothing less than a food revolution is needed in our schools.

His televised expos of modern school dinners included a stint at Eden Community Primary School, in Peterlee, County Durham.

Following his visit, the school has decided to overhaul its food policy and provide healthier choices.

Ministers have vowed that at least 50p will be spent on ingredients for each primary school lunch and 60p in secondary schools.

Labour promises to set up a School Food Trust to advise on nutritional issues.

While Mrs Blair was touring the school, Children's Minister Margaret Hodge was with Mr Blair about five miles away in Birmingham outlining Labour's election pledges on children, health and families.

She praised Oliver and his campaign, and said that the Government needed to end the situation where "unhealthy meals and the Turkey Twizzler reigned supreme".

Dr Madelaine Portwood, a Durham County Council educational psychologist who advocates the use of food supplements containing fish and mineral oil to boost brain power, welcomed Mrs Blair's frank outburst.

She said: "I think she is just being very honest. As a parent, she wants to do the best she can for her children.

"It just shows that all parents, even Prime Ministers' wives, have increased awareness of nutrition."

Schools across County Durham and Darlington have been encouraged to set up nutrition action groups and about half of all schools have achieved Healthy Schools Partnership status, while many other schools across the region are working on similar schemes.