TASTY cooked dinners are back on the menu at a Malvern school as it re-opened its kitchen this week following a long-overdue refurbishment.

Labourers have been hard at work at Great Malvern Primary School in Pickersleigh Road since the Easter holidays and finished last week.

The school has spent £25,000 on two new cookers, two fridges, new storage cupboards and extractor fans.

A new floor and heated counters for the meals have also being installed and serving hatches increased in size.

Headteacher Jonathan Sides said both pupils and the cook Sandra Hide, who previously had to cope with making about 150 meals a day from a small kitchenette with one cooker, had taken well to the new facilities.

He said Mrs Hide had already produced a two-week cycle menu with increased healthy-eating options.

Inspired by TV chef Jamie Oliver's school dinners campaign, one of the main changes is that there will be fresh instead of tinned vegetables.

"It was quite funny really because the first day back an awful lot of people seemed to have forgotten and the numbers were well down.

"We got a bit worried, but by Tuesday numbers were back to normal and it's actually caused quite a talking point among the children.

"Sandra is approaching the task with missionary zeal and trying her best to improve the dinners."