SANTA and his helpers will today distribute healthy food to North Durham children.
The free parcels given out in the Consett and Stanley area are part of the Why 5? project run by Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT).
The team from the PCT's health promotion department, whose aim is to increase fruit and vegetable intake, will help Santa give out sacks containing five items of fruit.
They will be in Consett Middle Street today and outside the Louisa Centre, in Stanley, tomorrow.
Project co-ordinator Liz Moran said: "It is important for us to engage with local communities and support them in improving their health. We are only too pleased to be involved in helping the community celebrate Christmas in this way.
"At a time when many of us tend to over-indulge with food and drink, it is important to try to get the five-a-day message across.
"Increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables is viewed by experts as the second most important approach to cancer prevention after reducing smoking."
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