A HEALTHY hound is making sure children avoid a dog's dinner.

The healthy eating campaign was launched in Kidderminster by the Midcounties Co-operative on Thursday.

Healthy Hound, a specially created mascot, will visit 40 primary schools across the West Midlands, including Stourport First School later this year.

The aim is to spread the message of healthy eating to more than 7,000 children in fun-packed assemblies.

The scheme has been devised and is being carried out by the Co-op's pharmacy group. The latest government figures indicate that 8.5 per cent of six-year-olds are clinically obese. This figure for 15-year-olds is expected to rise to 15 per cent.

Craig Williamson, founder of the Healthy Hound initiative, said: "He adds a sense of fun to get what is a very serious message across."