SCHOOL caterers in North Yorkshire are good eggs - and that’s official.

The animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming has praised the county council for its policy of using free-range eggs in school meals.

North Yorkshire County Caterers was one of the winners of the charity’s annual Good Egg awards, presented to organisations which refuse to use eggs from battery hens.

CWF’s campaign co-ordinator Eloise Shavelar (CORRECT) said: "We congratulate North Yorkshire for going free-range and hope that other councils will follow their example.

"All local authorities have a clear opportunity to lead the way in animal welfare standards, ahead of the 2012 EU ban on barren battery cages.

"Central and local government offices are important users of eggs – they employ over 2.5m staff with most providing food for employees and to supply local contracts including schools, residential units and social services."

The council’s executive member for schools, Jim Clark, said: "We are delighted to receive this award in recognition of our policy.

"As well as using local produce wherever possible, we strive to support producers who are committed to ethical standards of production."