FREE fruit is to be handed out across Bolton in a bid to encourage healthy eating.

Staff from the Beaumont Hospital, Heaton, have formed their own health squad, and will be handing out apples, pears and oranges, across the borough over the next few weeks.

The giveaway is to mark the fact that the Beaumont is the first private hospital to launch a GP service.

The GP service provides flexible consultation times for private patients.

Executive director of the hospital Kate Crewdson said: "We hope the free fruit will help us get the message across. Eating correctly, including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet, is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle."