CHILDHOOD nutrition is being reviewed in a bid to improve the diet of young people.

Every child aged between four and six in infant schools across County Durham is likely to be offered a piece of free fruit every day, by next year.

As part of the Government's National School Fruit Scheme, 500 schools have successfully piloted the offer of fruit to infant-age children.

Durham County Council expects the area to be included when the scheme is extended next year - and that could mean beneficial knock-on effects for the local economy.

While Durham's natural climate is not supportive of the growth of some of the more exotic varieties of fruit, the scheme may encourage farmers and nursery operators to diversify, as well as offering the opportunity for wholesalers to expand their markets, said a spokesman.

Councillor David Hodgson, cabinet member for regeneration, said the scheme attracted positive feedback in the trial areas.

"The results have been encouraging, both educationally and socially, and the scheme is being extended across the country next year," he said.

"Pilot schemes have even produced improvements in attention levels and behaviour, while in some cases they have had an effect outside schools, with greengrocers reporting increased sales of fruit."

The council's business development officers are to be asked to examine the potential benefits of the scheme to members of the county's agricultural and horticultural industries.