BASINGSTOKE'S primary school pupils are set to devour a number of rewards if they eat more school dinners.

Hampshire County Council, the local education authority, has helped devise a scheme to reward schools for encouraging pupils to opt for school dinners instead of packed lunches.

Each school is set a target for numbers of pupils eating school dinners. For every pupil over and above that figure, the school will gain a reward point.

The points can then be exchanged for a number of rewards, which include extra library books from Hampshire School Library Service, or minibus hire for one day.

The scheme is voluntary and was launched this week across the county. Currently, one third of the county's primary schools have signed up.

Alex Dabill, the area manager of HC3S, the county council's meals provider, said: "The school meal is now the best way of giving a child a nutritionally balanced diet throughout the day.

"We go beyond the guidelines set down by the Government, and hope this scheme will enable more children to get the benefits of a school meal."

Whitchurch Primary School is taking part in the scheme. Headteacher Remus Sawyerr said: "It's important we promote a good, balanced diet for our children. This is a partnership and we're going to work very much together to promote school dinners."