THE school tuck shop - an institution revered by the likes of Billy and Bessie Bunter - an veritable Aladdin's cave crammed with cream cakes, chocolate bars, crisps and sweets.

These days, however, school break times are somewhat different with the emphasis placed on healthier foods.

And one Bolton school is aiming to ensure its pupils are fit, healthy and safe with a health food bar selling fruit, vegetables and juices ... with all profits going towards resurfacing the school playground with a special rubberised material.

Morning break at The Oaks County Primary School in Sharples is a healthy affair with youngsters able to choose from apple or orange juice, milk, fruit, breadsticks, vegetables and cheese and crackers. Talks on healthy eating have long been a mainstay of the school on Sharples Hall Drive but, following extensive research, staff have decided to put their preachings into practice.

Hence the Health Food Bar - a healthy tuck shop if you like - where pupils can enjoy a mid-morning snack packed with goodness.

The school's headteacher, Robert Livesey, says: "Like many schools, we encourage children to understand their bodies and look after their health.

"The youngsters here are very receptive to this because I think, these days, an increasing number of children are taking an active interest in what is good for both the environment and for their own health and future lifestyle. "We decided to create the health food bar after some parents put the idea forward.

"Led by the school nurse, they devised a menu, which changes regularly, that provides the children with healthy, nutritional but tasty foods."

The health bar is available two mornings a week by volunteer parents. The school hopes to open the bar on a daily basis but needs more volunteers to man the site.

"The parents buy the produce locally and, in fact, Asda at Astley Bridge has been extremely supportive.

"The store has invited some of the older children to visit for a day so they can see how a real food store operates!"

Mr Livesey points stresses the health bar isn't a profit making venture but money that is made is ploughed into the school fund to raise money for resurfacing the school playground. He explains: "At The Oaks, health and safety go hand in hand so it seemed fitting that, now the children are healthy on then inside we should make sure they stay that way on the outside too."

As soon as enough money has been raised, the playground will be covered with a special surface which is a high quality, wet poured, impact absorbing, soft rubber surfacing system - providing a safer surface for playgrounds.

"Basically," says My Livesey, "it takes the impact of a child's fall and can be laid right up to equipment, leaving no hazardous areas exposed."

So the pupils of The Oaks look set for a healthy lifestyle - one that, according to Mr Livesey, will remain with them as they grow.

"We sow the seeds here - encourage them to eat healthily and look after their bodies with exercise.

"Hopefully we are paving the way for a fitter future."

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