ARTY youngsters have helped council bosses spread the message to people about food safety.

Pupils at schools across Durham came up with designs for a poster highlighting the steps people should take if they want to avoid getting, or giving someone, a nasty bug.

The three winners of the competition, run by Durham City Council ahead of June's National Food Safety Week, have been given £50 of book vouchers for their schools and a personal gift each.

The winners were Brooke Farrier, of Browney Primary School, Abigail Faye, of Shincliffe CE School, and Dawn Pomphrett, of Durham Trinity School.

All entries will be entered in the National Foodlink Competition.

A council spokesman said: "Each year, Environmental Health arranges a competition for local schools as part of National Food Safety Week.

"It provides a focus to help people understand and carry out basic precautions that can be taken to avoid suffering from food poisoning."