THERE are so many rules and regulations surrounding safe food handling that volunteers are to be sent on a special training course.

Wigan Council are to send volunteers who prepare food at the four luncheon clubs they fund in the Leigh, Tyldesley and Atherton area on a basic food handling and hygiene course.

The Social Services' Department's voluntary sector liaison unit has teamed up with environmental health colleagues to put on the course.

Director of Social Services Bernard Walker said: "The volunteers who run our luncheon clubs do a fantastic job, but there are many rules and regulations surrounding safe food handling these days, so we thought we would approach the experts for some basic training."

Twenty volunteers across the borough will get training through a grant from Wigan Metro's Social Services Department.

Director of Environmental Health, Bob Saunders added: "With Christmas approaching these courses have been especially relevant for people involved in running luncheon clubs. They are supported by the Institute of Environmental Health and at a reasonable cost we can put them on for organisations across the borough.

"Food safety is a highly topical issue at the moment and people who serve food need to be trained to a basic standard. It has been great to have such an enthusiastic and dedicated bunch of people to train."