EDUCATION chiefs have defended school dinners as they brace themselves for a roasting by TV chef Jamie Oliver.

Outspoken television cook and restaurateur Jamie last week launched a TV series highlighting the shortcomings of school dinners.

On Wednesday, on Channel 4 at 9pm, he will put pupils' grub in a Peterlee primary under the spotlight.

Expecting a poor school report, education officials decided to get their retaliation in first yesterday.

Councillor Neil Foster, a Durham County Council cabinet member for education, said: "No-one would disagree with the main thrust of Jamie Oliver's programme, that children - like adults - should be encouraged to reduce their consumption of fat, salt and sugar and increase their consumption of fruit, vegetables and other essential nutrients.

"But as Jamie himself has admitted, improving school meals along the lines he is suggesting, and on the scale that is needed, is a huge task that will require proper money, money that neither schools nor local government currently have.

"However, the county council and the head teachers of our schools are ahead of the game in this respect.''

Coun Foster revealed: "We have just completed a six-month review of school meals provision in County Durham and are confident that many of our findings and recommendations will be incorporated into the fine detail of a two-year extension to our existing schools meals contract, which has been agreed with the existing supplier, Scolarest, and which starts in September.''

The improvements, he said, which met the requirements of both parents and school governors, will include a healthier diet and a greater choice of home-cooked meals.

"Pupils themselves have sent us a clear message - they want the same type of service that adults would expect, namely good value for money, hot food, an attractive environment, good service from staff and high standards of hygiene and the opportunity to make comments or complaints which will be listened to.''

He also pointed out that the latest Ofsted inspection of Durham LEA recognised catering arrangements in County Durham schools as being generally satisfactory.