CHILDREN in Blackburn and Darwen are to be weighed at school as part of a scheme to tackle obesity.

But the return of old-fashioned scales to the classroom has sparked fears that overweight children will be "ridiculed and bullied."

Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust's proposal is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK and is part of a major study to establish just how overweight pupils are.

It will see the return of weighing scales last used as part of school medicals in the late 70s and early 80s. Once results are analysed, the trust will offer advice and help to parents and pupils.

But the National Union of Teachers and some local councillors fear building such a project into the curriculum may leave larger members of class stigmatised and the victims of nasty name-calling.

The Child Growth Foundation, which compiles national statistics and monitors obesity as part of its work, said the union's criticism was misplaced.

The foundation's honorary chairman, Dr Tam Fry said: "Children who are overweight or fat will be stigmatised by other pupils on a daily basis anyway so I don't buy the union's argument. The measuring was phased out in the 70s as at the time obesity wasn't a problem - but it is now."

Year five and six pupils at all schools in Blackburn with Darwen are being asked to take part in the scheme in order that the extent of obesity can be mapped and 'hotspots' identified.

Pupils aged 11 and under at participating schools will be required to stand on weighing scales as part of calculations to measure their body fat based on height and weight. The process will take place during normal classes or in P.E lessons.

The obesity study follows a national three-fold increase in the number of obese adults since the 1980s. In the last 10 years there has been a five to six per cent increase in the number of obese children and young people. In 2002 16 per cent of two to 15 year-olds were obese.

Commissioning manager from the Trust's children's services, Vanessa Hollings said: "We will measure year five and six pupils in schools in Blackburn with Darwen and calculate the body, mass index. They will just step on some scales used in schools in the past.

"We will be going in to schools from June onwards and it will be down to individual schools how they incorporate the project but it will be in a classroom environment or in a class of P.E."

Planned ways to tackle the problem range from increasing physical activity in schools to offering tips to parents on managing shopping budgets to include healthier food.

Blackburn with Darwen NUT secretary, Simon Jones, said: "This issue would have to be treated very sensitively.

"If the weighing process is carried out in classrooms in view of other pupils then it could leave overweight pupils open to ridicule and bullying."

Leader of the Lib Dems on Blackburn with Darwen Council, Coun Paul Browne, said: "I think the issue of bullying is one which needs to be taken seriously.

"But at the same time, it is important that obesity is tackled in class."

Tory leader Colin Rigby said: "I think it is one of those things where children should be weighed privately. They have enough problems at that age without having to be ridiculed for not being fed properly by their parents. We need to worry about educating the parents too."

Dr Fry added: "We monitor organisations across the country and Blackburn with Darwen should be applauded as I am not aware of anyone else in the country tackling the problem in that way before."The project is part of a push to increase life expectancy in the borough and has been funded from the government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.