Jamie gets pubs to help in school dinners push

Celebrity TV chef Jamie Oliver is getting pubs to help out as part of his bid to put hot dinners back on school menus.

For his new TV series Jamie is helping pubs in Lincolnshire to provide hot meals for local schools.

The results of the project will be shown on Channel Four as a follow up to his hit series Jamie's School Dinners.

A six-week trial was run at the King's Head in Theddlethorpe before Easter and another trial started last week.

King's Head licensee Phil Cross said the scheme had proven successful and many other schools in the area had already contacted the local council wanting to get involved.

"It's been 25 years since we've had hot school dinners in Lincolnshire so I think that was one of the reasons why this area was chosen," he said.

Over the trial period the pub has cooked dinners for the nearby Theddlethorpe

"He's given our two chefs advice on providing quality hot meals and how to produce them in a large volume.

"They've really benefited from his expertise and massive passion," added Phil.

The Manby Arms in Manby is another pub due to get involved in the scheme.

Mr Oliver has already visited the pub several times to offer licensee Sue Dawson some tips.

Ms Dawson said: "I'm looking forward to it, but there's a lot of organisation involved. At the moment the children just have packed lunches and a lot of parents don't understand what vitamins they need.

"But since the scheme at the King's Head I've heard about children who have started asking for vegetables at home."

The other pubs in the area which are involved in the show are the Waggon and Horses in South Reston and the Queen's Head in Legbourne.

It is understood the series, which is being made by Jamie's production company Fresh One, will be broadcast on Channel Four in September.