SWEETS and crisps form a large part of most children's diets.

But one school is trying to change that, and Pinehurst Juniors started the new school year with a healthy eating week to show pupils the way forward.

Pupils there did a week of lessons based on healthy living, and a team of fitness instructors came to put classes through their paces.

The week was organised by teacher Shelley Rees, the school's Personal Social Education co-ordinator, and the school now plans to bid for the Healthy Schools Award.

As part of a drive to improve pupils diet, the school has banned pupils from eating sweets and crisps at break times, and provides free apples.

Headteacher Steve Hobbs said: "The week was a big success. The children seemed to enjoy it and there is a nice happy atmosphere in the school.

"There has been a lot of scientific research on how diet affects learning and we wanted to start the term as we mean to go on.

"We have worked on the food children eat and the next step is to encourage them to get fit."