A FOOD company is serving up free meals for new pupils starting at primary schools in the Bridport area.

Local Food Links, of the St Michael’s Trading Estate in Bridport, is working with schools to offer a week’s free meals for children’s first week of full days.

Its Lunch Is On Us initiative is being launched at the start of school term.

The aim of the promotion is to promote healthy eating and roll away from the days of junk and factory-prepared food.

Caroline Morgan, Local Food Links chief executive, said: “We want to prove to parents that school meals are not about fast food and lumpy custard any more – but tasty, nutritious food they can’t help but love.”

Caroline added: “Growing children need good food at lunch-time to concentrate better in the afternoon and have the energy to play after school.

“So, we’re doing our bit towards developing healthy eating habits when they first start school.”

The promotion is for children starting in the reception class.

Parents will be invited to order their child’s meal online, with the first week free. The menu, which also caters for vegetarians, includes dishes like local roast pork and gravy, vegetable gratin, roast potatoes and vegetables finishing with a chocolate crispy cake.

The schools include Bridport Primary, Broadwindsor, Burton Bradstock, Charmouth, Power-stock, Salway Ash, St Catherine’s, Bridport St Mary’s, Beaminster St Mary’s, St Michael’s in Lyme, Symondsbury and Thorners.

The food is locally sourced and created at the Local Foods Link depot.

The company caters for all types of purchases. For instance, if you want your child to have five school meals a week or just one, that is available.

Ordering is not compulsory and you are not tied in.

The company is a non-profit making organisation.

Visit localfoodlinks.org.uk