The scheme is aimed at children aged four to six

Around 900 primary schools in the region are involved in the second wave of the healthy eating scheme.

One million pupils are already taking part in the National School Fruit Scheme, set up to promote healthy eating and prevent obesity.

Leading North East farmer Sir Don Curry will launch the second wave at Alnwick South First School, Northumberland.

It brings the number of schools taking part in the region to 910, which is 98% of all those eligible, and the total number of pupils to more than 113,000.

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

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."

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.

Health Secretary John Reid said: "Encouraging children to eat more healthily is vital if we're to tackle the increasing problem of child obesity."