SWEETS, cakes, crisps and biscuits are forbidden fruit at one Preston school.

Pupils are allowed to eat only healthy alternatives for their mid-morning snack at Lea County Primary School in Preston. They are banned from eating the snacks at break-time because the rules insist on fruit or nothing.

But one parent has hit out at the healthy eating drive and claims his children need more than an apple before their lunch.

Tony Lawton, single parent of Carl, six and Samantha, nine, reckons they should be able to eat crisps.

He said: "I'm not against rules but to stop a child from having a bag of crisps is downright pathetic. They are made of potatoes, what's more natural and healthy than that?"

Marketing manager of Benson's Crisps John Mudd said: "A packet of crisps contains more vitamin C than an apple and they are more beneficial than some breakfast cereals."

And Julie Perrin for Walkers Snack Foods told the Citizen: "We feel banning children from taking crisps to school is a rather draconian measure. Crisps add interest and cvariety when eaten as part of a healthy balanced diet."

Chairman of the school governors Mrs Helen Paton quoted the school brochure, saying: "For health reasons only fruit is allowed. The PTA sells fruit each morning in the playground. Sweets, cakes, biscuits and crisps are not permitted."

And she said that Mr Lawton had been aware of the rules before he moved his children to the school.

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