MATHS and English took a back seat for pupils at a primary school yesterday when they found out more about the value of a hearty breakfast.

In total, 110 pupils from Saltergate Community Junior School, Harrogate, were breakfast guests of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

They were invited to Harrogate's Great Yorkshire Showground to learn more about where food comes from and the importance of healthy eating. Pupils made their own sausages and identified different types of fruit and crops before tucking in to bacon sandwiches, fruit and glasses of milk.

The youngsters also took part in a survey, which asked them what they had for breakfast. Cereals were the most popular, being mentioned by 62 youngsters, followed by fruit juice with 28 and toast with 26. Thirteen children had no breakfast at all.

The chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Nigel Pulling, said: "The benefits of having a good breakfast cannot be emphasised enough.

"We produce some of the best food in the world and it is very important to get into the habit of having a healthy breakfast whilst you're young."

The event was organised by the society's education advisor, Di Brabbs, as part of Farmhouse Breakfast Week, which is run by the Home Grown Cereals Authority until January 31.

Saltergate school headteacher Chris Taylor said: "This was a wonderful opportunity for our children to learn about the importance of eating properly and to consider many issues concerning food.

"This event should help them to develop an understanding of how food is produced and where it comes from."