A PRIMARY school has become the first in the county to launch a new healthy eating initiative.

Holt Farm Junior School, in Ashingdon Road, Rochford, has started the new year by going meat free every Monday - and they are the first in Essex to do it.

Head of school, Lucy Wass, said: “Meat Free Monday is a simple, effective and fun way to become more responsible global citizens.

“It’s about coming together as a school community to help the planet and promote healthy food.

“We are going to have so much fun on Monday’s, with the help of the infant school catering manager, who supplies our hot food lunches.

“I used the Paul McCartney Meat Free Monday video during assembly this morning, and I know that the children will love his song!

“This week we had our chef’s special homemade macaroni cheese with garlic bread and salad, followed by a yoghurt.

“The jacket potato option is grated cheese, tuna mayo or baked beans.”

The new initiative will see the school serving healthy, meat free options in its canteen on every Monday lunchtime.

New deputy headteacher, Claire Richardson, said she was welcomed the initiative and was sure it was a hit with pupils.

She said: “It’s been great to see the children enjoying Meat Free Monday today and really taking on-board this new initiative.”