YOUNGSTERS at 25 schools across Teesside have been chosen to pilot a Government scheme introducing them to healthy eating.

The children, aged between four and six, will each be given a piece of fruit every school day for the next six weeks as part of a scheme to improve child nutrition.

The fruit will be delivered to each of the schools taking part three times a week.

Teesside is one of 25 areas across the country chosen to pilot the national school fruit scheme, which aims to provide free fruit every school day for all four to six year-olds by 2004.

The scheme is the biggest Government programme to improve child health and nutrition since the introduction of free school milk in 1946.

Among schools taking part are Thorntree Primary School, The Greenway, Middlesbrough, and The Fens Primary School, in Hartlepool.

The scheme was launched by Secretary of State for Health Alan Milburn at a London school, on Wednesday.

He said: "For too many families, particularly in low income areas, access to a healthy diet is limited.

"Children from poorest families eat less fruit and vegetables, and those in poorest areas also have the highest rates of cancer and heart disease.

"We are tackling those health inequalities and this scheme will provide a healthy boost for 80,000 children in the poorest areas of the country."

Helen Duckering, the healthy eating project officer for Middlesbrough, said it was hoped the scheme would encourage youngsters to develop a liking for fruit in preference to sweets and other less healthy snacks.

She said: "The aim is to increase fruit consumption and educate the youngsters by giving them a taste for a variety of fruits."