IT'S 8am and a group of enthusiastic youngsters are building up their appetite with a 'huff and puff' exercise session in the school hall.

In the kitchen teaching assistants Leesa Bettridge, Tina Weet and Chris Swain are making toast and whipping up scrambled egg.

It's just another day at the Beechwood Junior School breakfast club in Juniper Road, Bitterne.

A healthy selection of food is on offer, from additive free toast with scrambled egg, porridge, fresh fruit and smoothies.

The club has been running for a month and already attendance has outgrown initial expectations.

"We started off with about eight children and by the end of the week we had 42," said Leesa.

The idea of the scheme was to ensure the children were getting a good breakfast to set them up for the day - and the 20 minutes of exercise before they eat helps keep them in shape and burn off some nervous energy.

Deputy head teacher Sue Rees explained: "They have shown that children who don't eat breakfast before coming to school are not able to study as well.

"We also wanted to get the children used to exercise and healthy eating and we were surprised by the children's response.

"They are really keen to be doing some sport first thing in the morning."

The breakfast club has also brought some unexpected benefits.

"There are some children who never came to school on time before and now they are here for the breakfast club and punctual for lessons.

"There is also an important social side to this as well. They are sitting down together and eating at the table.

"It is really hard but in some cases we are having to show children how to use their knives and forks," she said.

Local companies have made donations to support the club and there are now plans for a youth club to run at the school.

The Graham Cotton Bakery supplies additive free bread every day; Sainsbury's in Bitterne give groceries worth £10 each week; Dairy Crest Dairies supply the milk; Co-op stores in Midanbury, West End Road and Bitterne Triangle donated a microwave oven, kettles, smoothie maker and art & craft materials; Alpine Stores in Vanguard Road gave toasters and Bitterne Police Station donated all the crockery.

The youth project for year 6 pupils aged 10 and 11 will open on May 25.

Youngsters from Townhill Park and Bitterne will be encouraged to get involved with community projects such as a theatre production, cleaning up the local woodlands and there will be time for arts and crafts too.

"If we can start to show the alternatives to hanging around on street corners with older peers, that has to be a good thing," said Leesa, who used to run the popular Zone youth club on the Townhill Park estate.

An election will be organised in the next two weeks so a youth management committee can be formed to meet and discuss the project with an adult committee.

The youth project has been promised £500 from the Church of the Ascension and match funding from Bitterne Church, the Children's Fund has given £1,745 and the Neighbourhood Wardens Office has given £200.

"If any other local businesses would like to support us, we would love to hear from them.

"And if there are any volunteers who want to help out at the youth project they should get in touch," said Leesa.

For more details contact Leesa on 07921 924808.