A Westhoughton school cookery club has been hailed as a model for other potential school cookery projects.

Westhoughton Primary School has just launched the club as part of a nationwide to boost the health of children, and it is already being held up as an example to other schools by the Department of Health.

The project has been set up to help children learn how to cook healthy and tasty meals and also increase their awareness and understanding of the importance of a balanced diet, food hygiene and safety.

Teacher Cate Marsden said: "Our cookery club which is open to both boys and girls is actually run by our headteacher Sue Marshall. The children have really been getting a lot out of it. Our recipes are geared around healthy eating and children also learn about food hygiene and a balanced diet.

"The club is part of our 'whole school' healthy schools approach. Last week a team from the Department of Health observed the club and described it as 'a model' for other potential school cookery projects."

The school is one of 42 across the North West that have now launched their own cookery club,as part of the £2.2 million Food in Schools initiative jointly by the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills.

Cookery Clubs are one of eight related projects being piloted across England.

The Food in Schools programme has strong links with other initiatives aimed at improving long term health and reducing obesity, though establishing healthier eating habits such as 5 A DAY, the National Healthy School Standard and the Health Action Plan.

Lessons learnt from the programme will be drawn together to develop a nationwide whole school approach to promoting healthy eating in children, and help schools, teachers and education authorities develop similar schemes for the longer term.