IN many schools, the milk moustache has become a thing of the past.

Indeed, since free school milk was stopped by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, youngsters have had to make do with fizzy drinks and water.

But a national campaign is aiming to encourage youngsters to start drinking the white stuff. This week is National Milk in Schools Week, with campaigners highlighting the fact that only 16 per cent of schools take up the chance to buy European Union subsidised milk.

Youngsters at Goddard Park Primary School in Park North have long been aware of how important it is to eat and drink properly thanks to a health drive by the school.

Pupils are not allowed fizzy drinks and are encouraged to eat fruit at break times rather than sweets and chocolate.

Every day they can buy a carton of milk for 13p, with the majority of pupils taking part.

Teacher and healthy schools co-ordinator, Emma Bending, says what pupils eat and drink can have a big effect on the school day, and they have worked hard to ensure pupils learn good habits. She said: "We run a breakfast club starting at 8am because many of our children's parents start work early, it's been a great success.

"If children come to school without having breakfast they get tired quickly, then they can't think as well and get frustrated. They have been a lot calmer since the healthy eating was introduced.

"I think children should drink more milk, our pupils are growing all the time and milk helps them. It is good for them to have a carton of milk at least every day."

In 1971 former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher earned herself the nickname Milk Snatcher after stopping the daily distribution of one third of a pint of milk to each of the nation's school children.

Food Standards Agency deputy chair Suzi Leather said: "Milk is a particularly good source of nutrition for young children.

"It contains a number of high quality proteins required for the repair and maintenance of the body.

"In addition to easily absorbed calcium, Riboflavin (B2), which is essential for utilising energy from food and vitamin B12, which is considered to be an effective measure for preventing anaemia."

Milk for schools website: www.milkforschools.org.uk