BURNHAM MP Tessa Munt is campaigning for new school kitchens to be as 'child friendly' as possible so they can double up and be used to teach cookery lessons.

Ms Munt was delighted by the news last year that from September, every single infant school pupil will sit down to a free school lunch, meaning 16,766 children in Somerset will benefit from a free hot and healthy meal at lunchtime.

She said: “I talk to parents every day in my patch and everyone is feeling the squeeze. “During the course of a year, the average family spends £400 on lunches for each child, and we are determined to ease the financial burden for families.

“Since the Coalition Government is providing additional funding for new kitchens, it makes sense for the kitchens to be accessible to children and teachers - so they can also benefit from learning how to cook healthy hot meals.”

“If we teach our children how to cook healthily, they will lead happier, healthier lives.”