Derwentside Primary Care Trust is hoping it has found the recipe for improving the health of residents.

In partnership with SureStart programmes in Stanley, West Derwentside, Chester-le-Street and Brandon and Deerness Valley, the trust has published a healthy eating cookbook.

The book was launched at the Louisa Centre, in Stanley, last week by North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong.

The idea came from Liz Moran, the trust's health promotion specialist, and the leader of the Why 5 programme, which urges people to eat five pieces of fruit or vegetables each day. She was helped by Jaime Battye, health promotion specialist for SureStart Stanley.

Some of the recipes came from a cookery class in Pelton Fell, and others from the Why 5 project.

Ms Moran said: "I hope that this book will make people realise that healthy eating doesn't have to be boring and that our most loved, everyday dishes can be made healthier by the ingredients we choose and the cooking practices we employ.

"The book contains a range of main course and dessert dishes, ranging from well-loved basics to the slightly more exotic, but a major aim of the book is to help people increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in their diet."

Copies of the book can be obtained from SureStart in Durham, Chester-le-Street and Derwentside, or on 0191-373 3144.