Schoolchildren across North Yorkshire have been tucking into the 'best ever' school dinner this year, after a two year drive by caterers to improve school meals.

The turkeys were locally reared in the County and cooked from fresh and were accompanied by mountains of healthy vegetables.

Over the last two years, caterers from North Yorkshire County Caterers have been leading the way in the nation's school dinners revolution, which followed the campaign by celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver.

This year, North Yorkshire County Council enjoyed a two per cent increase in the uptake of school meals at a time when most other authorities were reporting a downturn.

North Yorkshire County Council's executive member with responsibility for school meals, Councillor John Watson, said: "Kitchen staff and catering managers have worked tirelessly over the past two years to ensure that schoolchildren in North Yorkshire get a tasty and nutritionally balanced meal that represents excellent value for money.

"This year's best ever Christmas dinner in schools across the County is evidence of just how far school meals have come and the smiles on the pupils faces is a tribute to their popularity.

"In addition to improvements to school meals, catering bosses have been boosting the marketing of them.  This has included rewarding schools witnessing the largest increases in school meal uptake and healthy eating competitions for schoolchildren. 

Parents have also been encouraged to have their say through regular taster sessions at schools across the County.

The next step for the County Caterers is the launch of a new campaign in the New Year, which will see catering staff taking a lead role in teaching about nutrition and the make-up and preparation of healthy foods.