Nutritionists delved into the eating habits of pupils at St Nicolas’ Infants School in Station Road – along with 27 other schools – to find out whether packed lunches were more healthy than school dinners.

More than nine out of ten children take a packed lunch to school, and although the Food Standards Agency report found that fruit, brown bread and cereal bars were on the up, more pupils than ever were quaffing sugary drinks and eating cheese products.

Eight schools from the South East took part, involving almost 200 pupils, and agency spokesman Sam Church said: “We all know that what children eat now can have a big impact on their diet and health in the future and that there is nothing wrong with children having the odd snack – but these should be eaten in moderation and as part of a varied and balanced diet.”

Last year, West Berkshire Council sacked its private catering firm Compass Group, and brought in dinner ladies from Hampshire County Council to improve school dinners, by featuring local produce, organic vegetables, and less pizzas and burgers.