CHILDREN and staff from a Kearsley primary school are looking forward to joining Mickey Mouse and friends at Disneyland, Paris after winning a school dinners healthy eating competition.

Last month, Kearsley West County Primary, along with other schools in Bolton took part in the national school meals promotion.

And now 16 lucky children, aged between eight and 11, and four teaching staff have won an all-expenses paid trip to the wonderful world of Disneyland, Paris after their efforts during the promotion were judged a winner.

Headteacher Dorothy Lee, is one of the teaching staff accompanying the children on the trip. And she is delighted that the school's efforts have been recognised.

"It's a tribute to the hard work put in by the children and all the staff, teaching and non-teaching," she said.

During the week long promotion, staff and pupils arrived at school dressed in sports gear and the healthy eating theme was extended into both the classroom and playground.

Each morning at assembly the 265 pupils, who range in age from three to 11, were told a story with a sport and healthy eating theme, followed by a song on a similar subject.

And each day a different sport was explored in both the playground and classroom. The week's activities culminated with everybody - staff and children - coming together to perform a line-dance in the playground.

During the week the activities carried out were filmed and documented in a portfolio.

And this was then submitted into the national contest, with letters of support from organisations and individuals including Bolton South-east MP Brian Iddon, TV chef Gary Rhodes and Bolton Wanderers.

Head teacher Mrs Lee said: "To choose which children would join the trip to Disneyland, Paris the names of the juniors were put into a hat and four were chosen from each class.

"What was really pleasing was when the children's names were announced the children not chosen were pleased on their friends' behalf. We try to teach children to be positive in school and it was a delight to see their faces."

The school party will travel down to London on Monday, July 7 staying overnight in the city. On Tuesday they catch the Eurostar to Paris where they will spend the day, returning late that night to London.

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