CHILDREN at a primary school will tuck into nutritious smoothies, fresh fruit and vegetables during a two-day healthy eating event next week.

The 500 pupils at Easington Colliery Primary School will take part in activities which will include a taste test challenge, with youngsters being given chopped fresh fruit and vegetables to identify.

The event has been organised by school catering company Scolarest, the school, Durham County Council and Easington Primary Care Trust as part of an ongoing campaign to encourage healthy eating.

There will be a series of workshops, including a five-a-day session, explaining why it is important to have a good intake of fruit and vegetables, and how they supply vitamins and minerals the body needs.

Youngsters will be able to devise their own fruit smoothie combinations, using fresh fruit, fruit juice and yoghurt. There will also be a food hygiene session, using ultraviolet light to reveal hidden germs on hands.

David Riley, Scolarest's newly-appointed executive development chef for Durham, said: "This is going to be a really exciting couple of days, and we're all looking forward to helping youngsters extend their healthy eating knowledge through some fun hands-on activities."