A RADICAL experiment to combat learning difficulties in children by changing their diet appears to be showing extraordinary results.

Halfway through the six-month pilot scheme - which involves giving daily food supplements to County Durham primary school children - many youngsters are already responding.

In one case, a pupil's handwriting made the equivalent of four years progress in only 12 weeks.

Other children appear brighter, more out-going and find it easier to concentrate.

Extensive tests are used to measure skills such as reading, co-ordination, spelling, memory and handwriting, but the full results will not be known until September.

In February, The Northern Echo revealed how more than 100 County Durham children have been taking supplements containing substances known as omega three and omega six for three months.

Teachers say some youngsters - who may have learning disorders such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, hyper-activity and autism - are showing signs of improvement.

Andrew Westerman, headteacher at the 480-pupil Timothy Hackworth Primary School, in Shildon, said: "Some children have become more out-going and lively as new connections are being made in their brain. It is like lights being switched on."

Shildon mum Christine Hodgson said of her eight-year-old son, Mark: "He was very quiet but he is now constantly asking questions and is generally more confident."

The theory is that because of a move away from breastfeeding and towards eating more processed foods, many children are missing vital elements in their diet.

The food supplement pills contain evening primrose oil, marine fish oil and vitamin E, are believed to give children vital nutritional elements which they are missing.

Dr Madelaine Portwood, a senior educational psychologist at Durham County Council Education Authority, which helped organise the trial, said: "This really is a major landmark study which could make a real difference.