Thousands of pupils will be given a free lunch as part of a plan to get more youngsters eating school meals.

As part of National School Meals Week (NSMW), every primary school pupil in Brighton and Hove will have the £2.10 fee waived for one day only.

Town hall bosses hope the complimentary scheme will lead to more youngsters eating school meal every day, which in turn could lead to wider health benefits.

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Green councillor Sue Shanks, chairman of Brighton and Hove City Council’s children and young people committee, said: “Some pupils may never have had a school lunch, so we’re excited about being able to offer them the chance to try one.

“We want as many people as possible to know about the quality of the food we offer.

“We use Red Tractor meats, MSC fish, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, and local free range eggs.

“We hope this mass sampling will mean more children may be tempted to have a school lunch in future.

“Not all children get a nutritious, healthy meal every day so increasing uptake of our school meals could have wider health benefits.”

The scheme, which will be run in partnership with Eden Foodservice, will start on November 4.

A seven-day timetable has been drawn up, with every school year across the city being given a free meal on the same day.

The last to benefit will be Year 3 pupils on November 13.

Among the food on offer will be cheese and leek whirl, sweet potato and lentil curry and roast chicken.

A NSMW spokesman said: “There has never been a better time to celebrate everything that is great about a school lunch.”