IN-FLIGHT meals have long been the butt of jokes - but two young gourmets have made sure airline meals for kids pass the taste test.

George Lonsdale, aged nine, and 11-year-old Danya Van Den Berg were appointed to an airline's junior tasting panel and have decided what will be dished up to children next summer.

Manchester-based Thomas Cook Airlines wanted expert advice on what would go down well with their young customers and appealed for help from children.

George, of Middlebrook Drive, Lostock and Danya, of Darvel Close, Breightmet, stepped forward and recently spent the day at the airline's Manchester Airport headquarters helping shape up next year's menu.

During a tour of the building they visited the company's operation control room were they were shown around by a pilot and watched the screens showing the positions of all the Thomas Cook aircraft around the world.

Then it was down to business and trying out their tastebuds on a variety of meals.

The team settled themselves into the boardroom and were soon tucking into fare such as aeroplane shaped turkey breast nuggets and pork mini-burgers as well as quorn and vegetable cottage pie.

George and Danya took their job seriously and thought hard about how the meals could be improved.

"The pasta and meatballs was my favourite and I suggested it's better for young people to have their meal in a box rather than on a tray - it is not so easy to spill," said George.

Danya found herself liking most of what was on offer, especially diced vegetables.

"I also said we need activity packs on board with pencils, paper and puzzles," said Danya.

The young jet setters' ideas will be put into action in time for holiday flights next year.

"We've been impressed with the constructive ideas our junior panel have put forward and we now feel we have a solid idea of what our young passengers want," said Thomas Cook customers services director Joanna Wild.

"They have been a great help to us."

What's on the in-flight children's menu

Children on Thomas Cook flights this year are given either

Chicken Nuggets

Roast Chicken Dinner

Sausage, omelette and baked beans

Final choices have yet to be made for next year but will include two of the following

Turkey Jetters

Mini Burgers and chips

Teddy Bear pasta and meatballs

Chicken and cheesy mash

Mediterranean Pasta

Quorn and vegetable cottage pie

All the meals used on Thomas Cook Airlines are produced by Wrexham based Delta Dailyfood who make around 25 million meals a year for airlines and companies. Once made, the individual meals are sealed and blast frozen.

One meal from each batch is removed for testing and when given the all clear the batch of meals is sent to the airline's catering unit. In Manchester it is LSG Skychefs. The meals remain frozen until they are loaded onto the aircraft just before departure and then they are heated and served to passengers.