CHILDREN at three Gwent primary schools are getting stuck into some pukka tucker over the next two weeks, thanks to outspoken culinary hero Jamie Oliver.

And the new menu, which includes home-made meatballs, freshly prepared lemon chicken and fresh fruit - introduced initially as a pilot scheme - will be rolled out across the rest of Torfaen council's primary schools by June 6.

Chicken nuggets have been booted off the menu for good, according to the local education authority.

It says the policy change is a direct result of Jamie Oliver's campaign for better school dinners. It wants to ensure youngsters in its primary schools are the first to benefit. And education chiefs are also replacing fizzy drinks machines with water machines and sending cooks and kitchen assistants on refresher courses.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver famously hit out over the use of Turkey Twizzlers - a processed meat product popular on school menus - and other processed foods in Jamie's School Dinners, a TV programme and campaign to get healthier food for pupils.

As reported in the Argus, Monmouth-shire council banned Twizzlers and nuggets from its school menus from May.

The three schools in Torfaen to benefit from the new menu are Woodlands junior and infants, Henllys Church in Wales school and Griffithstown infants.

Torfaen council's leader, Councillor Bob Wellington, said: "We are committed to improving school meals in Torfaen and are taking this matter very seriously.

"Executive members and officers from education and operational services departments have attended a national conference on this matter from which we are now influencing change.

"It is vitally important for the health of the future generations that we ensure healthier meals for our children and young people."