PRIMARY schools across Worcestershire are being encouraged to plant potatoes in March as part of the British Potato Council's (BPC) Grow Your Own project.

Schools that register at www.potatoesforschools.org. uk before Friday, February 8, will receive free seed potatoes, and a £5 voucher towards the cost of compost and a container. There will be a prize of a digital camera for the school that grows the heaviest weight of potatoes, as well as runners-up prizes of gardening vouchers, when the crops are harvested in June.

To coincide with the International Year of the Potato in 2008, all schools that register before February 8 will also be entered into a grand prize draw for a chance to win a Potato Day Experience at their school. The prize will include a visit from a potato farmer, a healthy eating workshop, as well as an appearance from the BPC's very own Potato Pete. There will also be £50 in gardening vouchers for the runners-up.

Schools will receive their seed potatoes in February, ready to plant in early March. Schools that would like to submit the weight of their potato crop to the BPC must do this by June 24 to enter the competition for the heaviest weight of potatoes grown. The winner and runners up will be announced in July via the website.

Grow Your Own Potatoes is also supported by a wide range of educational resources available at www.potatoesforschools.org.uk. 2008 is International Year of the Potato, and curriculum-backed worksheets will be available that link to the Grow Your Own Potatoes project.

The project also supports the Year of Food and Farming.

All primary schools in England, Scotland and Wales, working towards KS1 and KS2, are eligible to take part in the Grow Your Own Potatoes project.

Schools can register by visiting www.potatoesforschools.org.uk or by calling 01865 782276.