PUPILS have been using computer technology as part of a ground-breaking initiative to examine how nutritional their food is.

Consumer watchdogs from Durham County Council's trading standards service visited Catchgate Primary School, in Stanley, County Durham, to show youngsters the "Cafe Life" food awareness project.

Although the project was trialled only in one school in the autumn, news of its success is such that other trading standards departments and schools in the country are keen to take it up.

Last week, the Government said it will spend an extra £280m on school dinners after television chef Jamie Oliver highlighted how unhealthy they were.

Trading standards officers created a cafe setting at the school and asked the pupils to choose their meals from a selection on the menu.

The children were able to discover on computers whether their choice was healthy or not.

Philip Holman, head of trading standards at Durham County Council, said: "Clearly, it is being viewed as a valuable aid in helping children to make an informed choice about the food they eat.

"There can be few things as important to us as ensuring the health of our children.

"This project reflects growing concerns about the food we eat -particularly school meals -and it follows hard on the heels of a county council report, which was published last week after six months' research, and which made a number of recommendations to improve the quality and nutritional value of school meals."

The Food Standards Agency Cooking Bus, which travels the country showing young people how to create and cook healthier food choices, was also taken to the school.

Teachers at the school will also hold workshops with pupils to examine healthier lifestyles.