PUPILS at a North Yorkshire school have been learning how to reduce food waste and cook up healthy meals at the same time.

Year seven pupils from Allertonshire School, Northallerton, worked with the North Yorkshire Waste Partnership, and used leftovers and basic ingredients to make a variety of toppings for jacket potatoes, to show how easy it is to use up uneaten food instead of throwing it away.

With the average household throwing away £50 of good food each month, a third of what we buy, the organisers of the event hope that teaching children simple recipes will encourage them to use up everything in the fridge.

Councillor Clare Wood, chairman of the York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership, said: "Using up leftovers to make simple meals is easy, and the pupils have shown that if we can find ways to use up leftovers, then we should all be able to do our bit to reduce food waste and save ourselves money at the same time."

For hints and tips on how to reduce food waste at home, visit lovefoodhatewaste.com. To find out about the campaign in North Yorkshire, visit www.letstalklessrubbish.com