SCHOOLS and businesses in Darlington are promoting their healthy eating policies thanks to an award scheme.

The Healthy Eating Awards were launched by Darlington Borough Council in 2001 with support from the NHS Darlington Primary Care Trust.

The aim is to promote a healthy heart through a balanced diet, no smoking and high standards of hygiene.

There are three awards. The Heart Wise School Food Award is for healthy lunch and breaktime options and the Heartbeat Award is for hotels, restaurants, hospitals, caterers and cafs that have high standards of hygiene, sell healthy foods, and have 75 per cent of their eating areas as no smoking.

An award introduced this year was the Heartbeat Gold Award, which recognises premises that have no smoking policies in all public areas and also promote healthy food and hygiene.

Successful applicants are inspected and must meet various criteria. They have to reapply every year and awards can be taken away if standards fall.

The scheme is recognised by the Food Standards Agency and allows the schools and businesses to promote themselves as delivering the healthy living message to customers.

Heart Wise School Food Award winners:

Abbey Junior, Branksome , Cockerton CE Primary, Corporation Road Community Primary, Hurworth Primary, Kids and Co Workplace Nursery (Town Hall and McNay Street), Middleton St George Primary, St John's Primary, St Teresa's RC Primary, St Bede's RC Primary, Rise Carr Primary, Dodmire Junior, Infants and nursery, Eastbourne , Hurworth House, Hummersknott School and Language College, Hurworth Comprehensive, Harrowgate Hill Infants, Skerne Park Primary, Whinfield Primary, Darlington Borough Council's catering service, Hallmark Catering Management.

Heartbeat Award winners:

The Skerne Park Chatterbox Caf, Hugo's Restaurant and Stables Bar at the Hallgarth Golf and Country Club Hotel, Redworth Hall Hotel, Spotted Dog gastro pub.

Heartbeat Gold winners:

Aramark Contract Catering at the International Fire Training Centre, Bannatyne's Health Club, P&A Catering at Cummins Engine Co Ltd, Darlington Memorial Hospital Patient Services and Hollies Restaurant, Elderwood of Darlington, Eurest Catering at Orange (Meridian and Nexus), the Student Centre, Oak Room Restaurant and Oak Room Bistro at Darlington College of Technology, Woodlands Hospital, Cooper's Coffee House, Affinity Health Care Patient Services and Restaurant, Dalkeith House, Catkins Coffee Shop, GJ's Restaurant, O'Brien's Irish Sandwich Bar, Massarrella's Cappuccino Bar in Binns, Middleton Hall, Caf Unique, Haughton Village Care Home, Stressholme Golf Club, Arts Centre, Civic Theatre, Maidendale Community Centre, Dolphin Centre.