A JUNIOR school in Darlington has opened a milk bar as part of a drive to encourage healthy eating.

Pupils at Abbey Junior School can chose from a range of flavoured milkshakes when getting their lunch from the canteen.

The initiative is one of a number of changes brought about after deputy headteacher John Chesterton carried out a survey to find out what food and drink pupils and parents wanted to see available.

The school has moved away from serving burgers and chips and now provides one healthy hot meal, a vegetarian option and a cold selection of salads, sandwiches and fruit.

"We now guarantee that children will have a tasty, nutritional and well-prepared meal, which is low in fat and low in salt," he said.

"The milk bar opened on Monday and it has already been a success among the children."