PUPILS across the region are continuing to take a packed lunch to school despite a continued "Jamie Oliver effect", it was claimed last night.

The Local Authority Caterers' Association has said the numbers of children taking school meals dropped by average of 12 to 15 per cent in the past year after the chef's School Dinners series, which exposed a dependence in some schools on junk food such as turkey twizzlers.

A survey by the Guardian newspaper said school meal services had been abandoned in many areas of the country, with sandwiches replacing hot meals.

But in this region at least, many councils and those responsible for school meals said take-up remained firm.

Middlesbrough Council, which provides freshly- cooked meals for 60 schools, said 63 per cent of primary school pupils and 56 per cent of secondary school pupils received a school meal, as opposed to a packed lunch.

Spokesman Mike Clark said: "Customers have remained loyal because they get good meals of a wide and healthy variety, along with salad bars and fresh fruit."

A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said: "The Jamie Oliver effect has had no impact on us at all."

Ivor Williams, head of Pelton Community Primary School, near Chester-le-Street, said it had already decided to change its menus and take over responsibility for its own meals before the Jamie Oliver programme.

Mr Williams said: "The danger with packed lunches is that parents just pander to what children want, whether that is two chocolate bars or a fizzy drink.

"The take-up of meals since we changed in September has been significantly higher since day one and we are hoping that will continue to increase.

"We order the food ourselves and decide what we want to pay. The kids get a good choice and there are plenty going back for seconds."