AN Italian restaurant has launched a home-cooked eating initiative encouraging children and their families to eat well.

Staff at The Pack, in Elton Road, Belthorn, welcomed children from Belthorn Academy and the school’s Little Bells to take part in a pizza making session.

Children used fresh ingredients to make pizzas including locally-sourced produce that made for a tasty dish.

Karl Elsworth, owner at the Pack said: “We want to welcome children from the community to the restaurant to get involved in making their own food.

“Something as simple as a pizza is so exciting to make and a great dish that enables children to get involved and see how their food is made.

“Parents often have busy lifestyles and through no fault of their own shove a frozen pizza in the oven and that’s a job done!

“We are inviting local schools to come along and get involved and we’re also doing Pizza Making Parties going forward.”

The mini chefs had their pizzas cooked in the flaming pizza oven at the Belthorn restaurant.

Kate Sutcliffe, reception teacher at Belthorn Academy teacher said: “This was an end of year treat to teach basic cooking skills and to help support our local business.

“It is an opportunity to make food from scratch and pizza is a quick and easy meal. This is a fantastic initiative from The Pack and we are bringing our year six children back next week.”