SCHOOL dinners are proving popular with Hertfordshire Primary Schools, according to the education authority's latest statistics.

Between October and December more than 44 per cent of children from the area chose to eat school meals, with Hertfordshire County Council’s meal provider, Hertfordshire Catering, dishing up 39,912 meals a day during October and December 2009 - a 1,998 increase on the year before.

Councillor Richard Thake, for education and skills, said: "School meals have been transformed since I went to school and these latest figures speak for themselves.

“Hertfordshire's catering staff serve tasty, balanced meals that children enjoy and are great value for money.”

A new three week menu selection, launched after Easter, will have extra meal appeal to attract more pupils. Children can opt for a traditional main meal or a vegetarian option with vegetables or salad, along with desserts, yoghurt or fresh fruit.

View the new menus after Easter by visiting www.hertsdirect.org/catering.

For further information, telephone the nutritional action line on 01707 292500 between 10am and 4pm.