FATTENING sugar-laden sweets and snacks are a thing of the past for children at Luttons County Primary School.

Like many youngsters, their playtime snacks have in the past consisted of crisps, chocolate biscuits and the like, but today the menu offers fresh fruit, cereal bars, dried fruit and a different exotic fruit each week, says head teacher Tracey Gilbank.

The school appointed a task force of its senior pupils who have stocked the new-look tuck shop under the guidance of Mrs Sue Thackeray, governor, Mrs Alison Pennington and school nurse Mrs Christine Grice.

And to add to their new fitness regime, the children have what pupil Aimee Sharpe describes as a "pre-school run" in which the children run around the school grounds to build up an appetite.

Updated: 11:55 Wednesday, November 19, 2003