HEALTH officials are hoping volunteers can help bridge the 13 year life-expectancy gap between Darlington’s poorest and richest wards by educating communities about nutrition.

Volunteers from the town have been trained for a food champions' project, run by NHS Darlington.

They have spent months spreading healthy eating and lifestyle messages within their own communities.

Volunteers all received training in health and nutrition and got the chance to shadow NHS food and health practitioners.

They attended courses in public health, school food training and expert patient sessions before taking their healthy messages back into the community.

It is hoped the scheme will also play a vital part in trying to address the 13 year life-expectancy chasm between the least and most deprived wards in the town.

Co Durham and Darlington Public Health's head of health improvement Ken Ross said: "Too many children are starting school at five already overweight and by the time they are 11 they are obese.

"As adults we are guilty of sending out inconsistent messages about food. With this scheme we have volunteers working with their peers, which is proving more effective than health professionals telling people time and time again."

Volunteer Kelly Rose said she had been brought up on takeaways but had developed her interest in food while travelling around the world.

She said: "This has been an opportunity to make a real difference and a chance for me to learn from everyone in my community. By taking small steps you can make long term changes."

Anyone interested in becoming a community nutrition volunteer can contact public health on 01325-746137.