Fruit consumption in the North East is the lowest in the country

More than 700 schools in the region are involved in the first wave of a programme to combat the poor consumption of fruit.

The New Opportunities Fund is spending more than �40m on the project, aimed at four to six-year-olds.

The second phase of the School Fruit Pilot scheme will see more than 100 other schools receive daily deliveries.

Latest research reveals that obesity in the region is the highest in England, while consumption of five portions of fruit and vegetables is the lowest in the country.

Dr Bill Kirkup, regional director for public health for the North East, said: "The more children we can encourage to embrace a healthy diet the better.

Serious illness

"Many who are given the chance to try fruit and vegetables enjoy the taste and begin to ask for them at home, potentially sowing the seeds for a healthier future.

"If that could happen here it would be a major step forward in reducing the chronically high levels of ill-health which blight our region."

Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, chair of the New Opportunities Fund, added: "This is the final region to be piloted by the fund and all the evidence suggests that it is a positive scheme that has been given a resounding thumbs up from children, parents and teachers.

"There is no doubt that the risk of developing a serious illness in later life is greatly reduced by having a healthy diet throughout your childhood. "

The New Opportunities Fund channels lottery good cause money into health, education and environment projects across the UK, with a particular focus on combating disadvantage and improving quality of life.

The lottery-funded School Fruit Pilot programme is part of the �297 million New Opportunities for Health programme.