IN their parents' day milk was the traditional break-time refreshment to help build a healthy body but today's youngsters grab a slice of their daily goodness by tucking into free fruit.

Every day children at first schools in and around Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa, and across the West Midlands, are enjoying apples, pears, satsumas and bananas delivered fresh by a leading supplier.

The scheme, aimed at encouraging children aged four to seven, to eat a healthy diet is being funded to the tune of £42m by the New Opportunities Fund, the biggest of the National Lottery good cause distributors.

Last Friday, three days after the scheme began at Lickey End First School, in School Lane, headteacher Ann Hill reported it being a big hit with her young pupils.

She explained deliveries are made three times a week and each day a different fruit is handed out to them.

"Many children are already eating fruit at lunchtimes," she said, adding: "The free fruit specifically being eaten at break times is contributing to the recommended daily five portions of fruit and vegetables required for a healthy diet."

So far bananas are proving the most popular fruit, she said.

And older children too are being caught up in the healthy eating habit.

Year four pupils have made posters bearing the fruit is good for you message.

Cath Phillipson, the county's healthy schools inspector, said similar schemes across Britain have proved successful and have shown the fruit habit soon becomes established.

The heaps of peel and skins are being composted for use on the school garden.