Research has shown fruit helps prevent cancer

More than 180,000 pupils in the East Midlands are to receive free fruit every school day.

The move is part of a £42m scheme funded by the National Lottery through good cause distributors, the New Opportunities Fund.

From Wednesday, 51,200 pupils aged four to six at schools in Nottingham, Derby and Northamptonshire will each enjoy a free piece of fruit each day through the School Fruit Pilot programme.

This number will increase as other schools in the region join over the next few months.

It is hoped eating fruit will help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease later in life.

Research undertaken by the Department of Health and the East Midlands Public Health Observatory shows coronary heart disease and strokes kill more people in the East Midlands than any other disease and cancer is the second most common cause of death.

People in the East Midlands also have the highest consumption of sugar of all the English regions and eat less fruit than other regions.

Regional Healthy Eating co-ordinator Jane Roberts said: "Healthy eating habits need to be formed early in childhood in order to prevent disease later in life and this scheme should make a real difference to the health of people in the East Midlands."

The fund's regional manager Mick McGrath said: "This is a great example of how Lottery money can be targeted to help improve people's quality of life and shows how we can effectively link up education and health services for local people."