YOUNG people in County Durham are being won over to healthy eating by tapping in to an on-line menu.

An interactive web-based education initiative, developed by Durham County Council's Trading Standards service, is touring shopping centres to raise awareness of the benefits of healthy eating.

Called Cafe Life, it was launched earlier this year after a successful trial at Greenfield School Community and Arts College at Newton Aycliffe.

Businesses and health professionals worked with Trading Standards officers to provide health information on issues such as diet, safe hand washing and how to make fruit smoothies as an alternative to sugary drinks.

Since then, it has been used by schools around the county to encourage young people to look at the nutritional content of their daily diet.

Phillip Holman, the county's head of trading standards, said: "There is much concern about the high sugar, salt and fat content of popular snack foods which, for many young people, are a staple part of their diet.

"Using the Cafe Life computer, young people can select foods they would normally eat and find out how good - or bad - they are.

"It's proving to be a fun way for young people to learn about the food they eat and many other local authorities are now looking to include Cafe Life in their educational work," he said.

Councillor Don Ross, the council's deputy leader, said: "Raising the awareness of young people to the value of a good diet will help them to enjoy a longer and healthier life."