More than 1,000 reception class youngsters starting primary school this month are being offered free school meals.

Youngsters aged four and five at 90 per cent of Bradford district primaries which use the council’s in-house catering service will be given the chance to take up a “try before you buy” offer for four weeks.

Council chiefs hope it will boost the number of children eating school meals and, ultimately, help tackle obesity.

Craven Ward district councillor Adrian Naylor said: “Bradford has always been innovative with school dinners and was the first place in the country to offer hot dinners to pupils.

“School dinners have changed considerably since then and they are just getting better and better.

“Having dinner at school gives children an opportunity to socialise with other pupils and develop friendships outside of the classroom, as well as giving them a healthy and nutritious meal in the middle of the day.”

The initiative will be financed by Government funding provided to the council to support improvements to school food.

Children will get the chance to experience free meals for four weeks at any time during their first half-term.

This is the first time Bradford Council’s school catering service, Facilities Management Catering, has run the scheme, which will run alongside other activities and promotions.

There is no paperwork for parents — children just need to turn up to participate.

A council spokesman said: “The aim is to encourage the trial of school meals right from the start of school life and establish a positive habit of eating healthy and tasty school meals.

“Learning, playing and eating together are recognised as great ways to develop the bonds of friendship that make school life so enjoyable.”

More information on the scheme is available through posters and leaflets within schools and in the New Starter Pack issued to parents of reception class children each year.

Parents can also contact head teachers or the catering manager at their children’s school to find out more.

The scheme will run again early next year for participating schools with a January intake but will not apply to the 10 per cent of primary schools which organise their own catering.