ART competition winners were rewarded for their efforts with certificates and prizes yesterday.

To mark National Food Safety Week next week, youngsters from schools across Sunderland were invited to design posters.

The competition's 24 winners received certificates, along with vouchers and food hygiene goodie bags, at Sainsbury's coffee shop, in Silksworth Lane.

Co-ordinated by the national campaign group Foodlink, with support from the Food Standards Agency, the event, now in its 11th year, will highlight the importance of food safety and promote hygiene.

This year, the central message will be the importance of people thoroughly washing their hands when involved in food handling or preparation.

To convey it, staff from Sunderland City Council's environmental health promotion unit have made presentations to 6,000 children.

Environmental health officer Norma Johnston said: "It is important for youngsters to get the hand-washing message at an early age so it becomes second nature."