Fizzy drinks have been linked with childhood obesity

The sale of fizzy drinks to school pupils has been limited in another education authority in the United States.

The Seattle Schools Board, in Washington state, has narrowly voted to extend a five-year drinks contract with Coca Cola - but has placed restrictions on sales to pupils.

Middle school pupils will not be allowed to buy carbonated soft drinks during school hours. And vending machines will also have to offer healthy alternatives - such as water and fruit juices.

Last month, New York city's school authority, the largest in the United States, announced a ban on the sale of sweets and fizzy drinks in schools.

Funds for schools

The New York ban, affecting schools attended by a million pupils, is intended to tackle the problem of childhood obesity and to encourage a healthier diet.

The decision in Seattle represents a compromise between financial pressures on schools to keep the drinks contract - and the demands of health campaigners to reduce the consumption of fizzy drinks.

There have been growing calls for an improved diet for young people - and the sale of fizzy drinks in school has been particularly criticised.

But the vending machines have also raised revenue for schools - with the Coca Cola deal in Seattle claimed to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for school funds.