Pupils' pride at growing fruit and veg in school

Head teacher Claire Smith said the children "have been incredible"

Primary school children from across part of Lancashire will soon be able to cook meals at home using ingredients they have grown at school.

Sixteen primary schools have joined the Pot Gang scheme, which aims to teach children lifelong skills including how to grow their own produce.

The monthly box subscription scheme is funded and supported by the council's repairs contractor, Wates Property Services.

Claire Smith, headteacher of St John's Catholic Primary School in Burscough said: "The families are so supportive and the children have loved taking some of the skills back home."

Sixteen primary schools have joined the Pot Gang scheme

She said the children "have been incredible".

"We've got a forest school at St Johns," she said.

"So they're very much used to being outdoors and this just added an extra dimension to what we do in the curriculum.

"It's encouraged them to eat a wider variety of fruit and veg and just get involved with planting not just in school, but at home as well."

Ms Smith said as a forest school "we've got a commitment to take learning outside".

"Not all children are motivated in the classroom and I think we can add an extra dimension, because you learn through doing," she said.

Student Charlie said: "So far we've grown broad beans, salad, cauliflower and beansprouts."

And Sam said: "When you take them home, you can cook them, or you can start growing more."

Councillor Vickie Cummins, lead member for health and wellbeing at West Lancashire Borough Council, said: "Encouraging our young people to eat fresh, natural produce is important and a great way to do that is for them to take pride in growing their own ingredients."