A SWINDON MP is showing her support for a campaign to tackle England's obesity epidemic.

South Swindon MP Julia Drown has sponsored a backbench Bill in Parliament that calls for healthier food in schools.

Ms Drown said: "I am glad to be a sponsor of my colleagues' Bill, as childhood obesity is a growing problem.

"It is important that the Government knows MPs are concerned."

Fellow Labour MP for Stafford, David Kidney, introduced the Food in Schools Bill in Parlia-ment last week.

The Bill aims to make the free fruit in schools scheme permanent and to extend it to nurseries; extend free school meals to breakfast clubs and improve the minimum nutrition standards of school meals.

The Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on June 22. Although it will not become law because of time restraints, Ms Drown and Mr Kidney hope that it will make the Government take notice of the issue.

She added: "This Bill shows the importance of encouraging and funding schools to promote strong messages about healthy eating that will remain with children throughout their lives."