Free school meals week.

CHILDREN starting school in Gateshead this September will be given a healthy start with free school lunches for their first week.

Gateshead Council hopes the scheme will give children starting their reception year at primary schools throughout the borough a taste for healthy meals early on in their education.

Pupils will be able to choose from a two-course lunch, which includes a range of hot meals with vegetables, hot puddings, fruit, yoghurt and a drink, including milk, water and fruit juice.

Up to 1,400 children in Gateshead are expected to take up the chance to sample healthy school meals.

Gateshead schools are already slightly above the national average for school meals, with 48% of children opting for the healthy option already.

Gateshead Council cabinet member for children and young people, Coun Catherine Donovan, said: "I would encourage all parents with children starting school in September to take up this offer and give their children the chance to have a healthy, freshly cooked lunch.

"Hopefully, a lot of the children who get the chance to try school meals for free now will go on to have a hot, healthy and tasty school lunch right through their school days."

A free helpline has been set up to give parents more information on the free school meals scheme on 0800 169 2780.