BOLTON children got their teeth into national apple day by munching through TWO crates of fruit.

It was crunch time for British apple growers who want to wean youngsters off chocolate and sweets.

But the Bolton kids gave a thumbs-up to the traditional Cox apples -- all grown in England.

They were given 350 free ones at Morrisons Supermarkets in Blackhorse Street and Mornington Road on Saturday.

And Rachel Carroll, aged 10, from Westhoughton, pictured, was just one who thought it was a great idea.

John Bohanna, manager at the town centre store, said: "It went very well. We had a good response from customers and the kids loved the novelty value of having a free apple.

"Whether or not it stopped them from buying a chocolate bar I don't know."

The supermarket chain's giveaway followed a Government report which revealed that one in five children goes for a week without eating a single item of fruit.

National Apple Day was held at each of Morrisons 106 stores throughout the country.

There are more than 6,000 varieties of apple grown in Britain each year.

The apple, a member of the rose family, is still one of the nation's favourite fruits.

It can cleanse the mouth of 95pc of bacteria as well as being full of vitamins.