Pupils pop to the pub for lunch

Pupils at a Somerset school are being taken to the pub every day by teachers - and their parents couldn't be happier.

The Harvest Moon pub in Bridgwater is serving up school dinners daily for the pupils of North Newton Primary School, which is opposite the pub.

Licensee Helen Edwards has added the job of dinner lady to her role after the government announced targets for all schools to serve hot meals by 2008.

Helen, herself a former pupil at the school, leapt into action to help because 77-pupil North Newton Primary has no kitchen. The meal service started in January.

The pupils are escorted to the pub by teachers. Parents pay £1.70 for two courses, with the weekly menu including roast dinners, curry and toad-in-the-hole, with puddings and fruit to follow. The local education authority also makes a contribution to the cost of the meals.

Helen said: " I cover my costs, but it isn't about making a profit. I went to the school, and so did my children, and you have to give something back to the community."

Parents order a week in advance, and can buy a meal every day or just when the menu appeals. The numbers are rising steadily, with some of Helen's specialities proving to be real crowd pleasers - "we get around 50 when I do a roast."

Pupils arrive at 12 noon and are back off to school by 12.45pm, at which time the pub can open its dining area to other customers. "At this time of year, we're not that busy at lunchtime, so I put up a 'private function' sign while the kids are here."

With no budget for a new kitchen at the school, Helen is happy for the arrangement to continue indefinitely

And, of course, she is also winning the hearts of her future regulars. "I'm sure we'll see some of them in here at the bar, but not for a few years yet."