A PILOT scheme to fight the flab and encourage healthy eating has won over pupils and parents at Bishopstoke's Stoke Park Junior School.

An after-school Cook and Eat course, where children and their parents learnt about cooking and eating healthier food, has been a big success both at school and in the home.

Launched by catering staff and backed by lottery cash, the initiative was set up by Eastleigh Council to respond to the obesity epidemic facing the UK.

It provided hands-on cooking for children in the school and promotes an all together healthier approach to the way children think about food.

Mayor of Eastleigh June Hughes presented the pupils and their parents with certificates for completing the course.

She said: "In this day and age when we have all the problems with obesity and lack of exercise it's very good to see something like this.

"We can do all the work with the child at school but if they are not taking the message home with them then it won't work and having the parents getting involved is a great part of the class."

Alison Hunter joined her two sons, Aaron, 10, and Callum, 8, who are pupils at the school, and said the class was great fun.

She said: "We try the recipes at least once a week at home and the children have started to think a lot more healthier.

"Now when they come in hungry they will snack on some fruit or carrots."

The course, which proved so popular that it was oversubscribed, has now finished its first six-week run.

Supporting the class was a team of local food providers and health experts including Hampshire Fare, Eastleigh and Test Valley South Primary Care Trust, Winchester and Eastleigh Health Care Trust, South Hampshire Food Forum, Hampshire County Council and Sunnyfields Organic Farm.

Teaching assistant and former food technology teacher Karen Whitecross said: "We wanted to bring a real local feel to it, and show children that they didn't have to rule out sweet food, but just maintain a well balanced diet."

As well as a certificate, each pupil also received a healthy eating recipe book based on what they had cooked, so they could continue their healthy lifestyle after taking part in the class.

The organisers are now looking to put on more classes and extend the scheme across the borough.