LOCAL schools have been celebrating National School Meals Week with the theme Food 4 Action' which focused on challenging outdoor pursuits and exciting physical adventure sports such as canoeing, cycling, sailing and climbing.

The week's aim was to promote to children the importance that a balanced diet plays in keeping fit and healthy. It also promoted the important bearing that diet has on taking part in and enjoying challenging sports or pursuits, both in school and out.

Cabinet spokesman for education, Coun Joan Stocker said: "There is much evidence to support the view that a balanced diet helps children to concentrate and improve their learning. Healthy children are also more likely to attend school.

"The schools that receive the county council's school meals service ensure that children get a healthy well-balanced meal in the middle of their working day. We continue to encourage children and parents to work with the school and encourage healthy choices."

Meanwhile, cabinet spokesman for Cumbria Contract Services, Coun Tim Heslop said CCS tried to us as much locally-sourced food as the service can supply. He added: "Since modernising our service we have been able to provide 38 schools, who receive their school meals service from us, with modern kitchens. Another 12 kitchens will be refurbished by the end of the year."