SCHOOL cooks have returned to the classroom to show their support for a healthy eating drive.

About 40 head cooks from Hartlepool undertook training to learn more about nutrition and balanced diets.

They each attended a three and a half-hour course organised by Hartlepool Council and run by registered dietician and nutritionist Dawn Shotton.

Issues examined including reducing fat and sugar intake, the benefits of fruit and vegetables, sources of fibre, the importance of vitamins and minerals, the role salt plays in the body and how too much can be harmful.

Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond. who presented each cook with a certificate, said: "I'd like to congratulate all of the school cooks who took part in the courses - it says a lot about their personal professionalism and dedication."

Doreen Wilkinson, the council's catering manager, said: "The quality of school meals is a topical issue, but here in Hartlepool we believe we are ahead of the game. We already offer a wide range of healthy options in schools, and chips, for example, are only served once a week in primary schools.

"We are proud of our catering staff and the skills they bring to the job. However, it is important not to become complacent, and we felt these courses were an effective way of reinforcing some key healthy eating messages."