A BOLTON MP has toasted the Breakfast Club initiative set up at Johnson Fold Community School after paying it an early morning visit to see if for herself.

Ruth Kelly, MP for Bolton West, was at the Worston Avenue school on Friday morning to see more than 50 eager youngsters get a flying start to the day.

Ms Kelly praised the initiative saying it was "exactly the kind of thing the Government wants to see more of".

"This is a wonderful idea and full credit to the school for organising the club," she said.

"The beauty of it is that it is run by parents who are showing a real commitment to the school and are dedicated to getting involved. It really is a win, win situation."

She added: "The school gets help from Bolton businesses with food supplies so everyone eats for free and it also frees up the parents to do more in the morning.

"The Government would like to see more use of schools in both the morning and after school hours so this is exactly the kind of thing we would like to see more of and I share the view that it should be expanded to other schools in Bolton."

With regards to concerns that some children in Bolton may be going without food for 12 hours before coming to school Ms Kelly said the Government was also trying to help.

"We have introduced a scheme where young children are given free fruit at school and while this may not have been rolled out in parts of Bolton it is on its way.

"It is of course important for children to eat at the beginning of the day and schemes such as this get them into school and gets them ready to learn."