A school in the region appears to be bucking the national trend when it comes to pupils tucking into meals.

Government figures released last month in the wake of Jamie Oliver's high-profile healthy eating campaign show that fewer youngsters had been eating school dinners.

However, in Bedale, the opposite is happening, with more pupils returning to the school dinner hall than elsewhere in the county.

Figures from the county council's school catering division show the numbers of pupils taking a school dinner at Bedale High School during the past academic year rose by just under 20 per cent.

That equates to nearly one in three pupils at the school now choosing school dinners.

Yesterday, the development was welcomed as extremely promising by the county's executive member with responsibility for schools, John Watson.

He said: "The fact that Bedale High School, which historically hasn't enjoyed a particularly high school meals uptake, can buck this trend and turn itself around so quickly is an extremely positive sign and a testament to the school's catering team.

"Children and parents in North Yorkshire are increasingly waking up to the fact that school dinners are not just healthy and excellent value for money, but also pretty tasty too."