Mums dish up organic school food

Organic jacket potatoes are now on the school menu

Two mums have taken school dinner provision into their own hands and are serving pupils local organic dishes.

The kitchens at Swindon's Lethbridge Primary School were due to close, so Pam Shipperbottom and Laura Ilsey took on the catering contract.

They set up a new company and are now serving salmon fishcakes, salads and organic jacket potatoes from nearby farms and suppliers.

The pupils will also be making trips to farms to see where the food originates.

'Cooked from scratch'

The mums took advice from the Soil Association when setting up their company, Let's Do Lunch.

Mrs Shipperbottom, whose daughter attends the school said: "We just responded to a need. We did not want our children to be in a packed lunch culture.

"I think it is important to get them used to eating locally produced food that is organic where possible.

"We are trying to remove all the processed food. It's all cooked from scratch."

The scheme is being launched on Tuesday with catering manager Jeanette Orrey and Peter Mechett of the Soil Association.

The launch coincides with national Organic Week with runs until 12 September.

On Monday, the National Union of Teachers called for a for a clampdown on "pernicious" junk food advertising aimed at children.