CHILDREN eligible for free school meals in Worcestershire are being encouraged to take advantage of them by the county council.

Figures from the Department of Children, Schools and Families reveal that 5,760 pupils out of an eligible 6,960 got free school meals in Worcestershire last year.

Coun Liz Eyre, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "Although the take-up is good, there are still a lot of children who could take up free school meals that aren't and I would encourage all to do so.

"I know there is sometimes a stigma attached to free school meals, but there are so many discreet ways that the service can be administered without the child ever having to feel embarrassed that people know."

Mrs Eyre's comments follow a report from Ofsted school inspectors revealing that the take-up of school meals generally has been falling since the introduction of Jamie Oliver's much-publicised healthy meals campaign two years ago.

In fact, it had dropped in as much as two-thirds of schools it visited, even though they met all the Government's new nutritional standards.

In Worcestershire, 70 per cent of schools provide hot school meals, and of those there is a take-up rate of around 50 per cent.

Mrs Eyre said she was pleased with the way schools in the county were working to provide healthy school meals.

"We have put back kitchens in many schools to ensure hot meals are available and have been encouraging healthy eating for some time," she said.

"I think Jamie Oliver has helped to raise the profile of this issue. I'm glad those that are eligible for free school meals are taking advantage and we will continue to do all we can to promote healthy eating."

The county council recently held its first Worcestershire School Food Awards to celebrate the way schools have promoted healthy eating.