FRESH and healthy menus have been credited with a ten per cent rise in the number of Oxfordshire children eating school dinners.

More than 1,000 extra children a day are tucking into a hot meal, compared with three years ago.

About 34 per cent of pupils now opt for one of the county council's £1.90 lunches, a figure still well below the national average of 43.6 per cent, which itself is up by 2.3 per cent on last year.

The turnaround, which has coincided with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's high-profile campaign to rid school menus of processed foods, has saved the county council's school meals service from the brink of closure.

Colin Garnham-Edge, service manager of Food with Thought, the council's school catering arm, said: "The largest increase in children having school meals has been in the past 18 months or so.

"Three years ago, the school meals service was in danger of collapse, through lack of support."

At Wheatley Primary School, one of 179 schools served by FwT, the new-look meals have been complemented by healthy eating education and a school allotment.

Headteacher Joan Morters said: "We have about 300 pupils here and when I came here nearly three years ago, there were 20 children a day who had cooked meals, or 40 on a really good day.

"In the past two and a half years, that has doubled and we can get up to 80 for special occasions.

"More infants are doing it and as they continue up through the school, they will get into the habit of having lunch."

Assistant cook Julie Bestley said: "I have been here for five years and it used to be turkey twizzlers and all frozen and processed food.

"Now it's home-made and freshly prepared, even stuff like home-made pizzas and chicken pie. It's a bit more work - but it's worth it when you see the kids come in and enjoy it."

The refreshed menus have also got the thumbs-up from pupils.

Five-year-old Billy James said: "It's really tasty and we get a sticker when we finish our trays."

Jake Barton, ten, said: "I have school dinners every day. They're just really tasty.

"They have definitely changed - they're better and much more healthy."

Eve Freeman, 11, said: "There's always something you like and they're a lot healthier.

"There used to be chips every day but we only have them on a Friday now."

In the financial year 2005-6, FwT served 9,107 meals a day. The following year that figure rose to 9,147, and then again to 9,475 last year.

By June this year, that number had reached 10,117.

Mr Garnham-Edge said: "We have tried to take our menus back to basics.

"All of our own catering staff are making as many meals in house as they can, while trying to make the menu child-friendly.

"Not only are parents happier, but our staff are happier to prepare these dishes, so they feel more valued.

"Most importantly, not only are the children having school meals, we have also taken back three schools who previously did not have our school meals."