- GREATER CLARITY
Crocodile on the menu...!
- Report with thanks to
HSE.
HUNGRY Horace, the city's healthy eating mascot, will be giving school mealtimes some extra bite, by launching the council's new 'Snap-A-Pack' lunches!
The council's very own giant croc is leaving the swamps to promote healthy eating, nutrition and exercise. He will be handing out footballs, hula-hoops and baseball bats and joining in a variety of lunchtime sports activities for the children, led by Sportslinx, Europe's largest fitness programme for under 10's.
The Snap-A-Pack lunches have been created by the city council's catering services to brighten up lunch times for children, give them more choice and promote a healthy and nutritious diet. The lunches come in colour-coded bags bearing the Hungry Horace crocodile logo. Ten different varieties will be available every week, with a choice of two each day.
The new packed lunches will give Liverpool children much more choice at lunchtime. They can either plump for their usual hot meal, or go for Hungry Horace's crocodile creations! As well as being tasty and colourful, the meals comply with nutritional regulations to ensure a balanced diet.
The fun packs include:- vegetarian sausage roll, pasta salad, marshmallow biscuit, fresh fruit juice, ocean mix brown roll, carrot batons and a chocolate cone.
Many children already bring packed lunches from home. "Snap-A-Packs" mean that busy parents can save time and be satisfied that a healthy and balanced packed lunch is being provided in school - And simply grabbing one of the new Hungry Horace lunches will make service snappier, giving children more time to exercise and play.
Suzanne Halsall, business manager of the city council's catering service, said, "School meals staff came up with the idea for the new service and thought Horace would be a great ambassador for healthy eating. He is always hungry at lunchtime and makes the right choice about what to eat."
Councillor Paul Clein, executive member for education said, "The old style school meal is a thing of the past, and children expect more variety and choice. A balanced diet and exercise now will give these children a better future as healthier adults. I hope Horace is a real hit with our youngsters, and I'm looking forward to him becoming a well known character in Liverpool schools."
The new meal packs will be rolled out to infants and junior schools across the city. Catering staff will listen to the views of pupils, to see if Horace and his tasty lunch time treats prove popular!
Earlier this week, Hungry Horace visited St Johns Primary, Sessions Rd, L4 and St Michael in the Hamlet Juniors, Neilson Rd, L17. He will visit St Teresa's Juniors, Utting Avenue, L11 on Friday 9 May.
Hungry Horace (aka mobile cook Victoria O'Gorman), said:- "It's been fantastic to see the smiles on children's faces when I've arrived at their schools. I may be one of the biggest crocodiles they've ever seen, but there's no need for them to worry - I'm a vegetarian croc!"
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- VISITORS ENJOY 'PIER' PLEASURE
SOUTHPORT'S recently restored Victorian landmark pier celebrated its first anniversary since its grand re-opening by notching up over 396,000 visitors.
This figure far outstrips the annual figure of 100,000 people walking along the original pier prior to its closure in 1996.
The 3,600 sq ft pier re-opened last May bank holiday weekend following a £7 million restoration programme. Since then visitors have been flocking to the resort to stroll down the country's oldest and second longest pier after Southend.
The National Piers Society has just named the Grade II listed structure, which is now open daily from 11am, 'Pier of the Year' for the first time in its history.
Tony Corfield, Head of Tourism, said:- "Southport pier is a great tourist attraction. It is really rewarding for all those who worked so hard to save the pier to see such high visitor numbers. The restoration of the pier is an outstanding achievement, which puts Southport on the map as the major tourism venue in the North West."
"Many new attractions and features are planned for the pier this summer including the Southport Pier Extravaganza, will mean thousands more people will have the opportunity to take a stroll along the Victorian structure and to take in the spectacular views from the end of the pier across Liverpool Bay to North Wales."
This year traditional seaside 'penny-in-the-slot' amusement machines will feature in the Pier Pavilion and new plasma screens will run information on Southport and its many events and attractions and videos will portray the resort's history
New ornate lighting is presently being installed to create a tunnel of light along the pier, which has been designed to reflect the Victorian heritage of the original structure, which opened in August 1860.
The Southport Pier Extravaganza will be a two-day, action-packed festival of family fun and entertainment on Friday, July 11th and Sunday, July 13th. Attractions already planned include interactive activities, hilarious street artists and costumed characters, musical entertainment, giant games, face painters and a stunning and spectacular stunt show finale.
Throughout the summer the popular 'Bird watching for All and Family Fun Days' will continue giving visitors the chance to identify the many different birds that gather along the Sefton coast and to learn more about their habits. There will also be fun and games for younger members of the family.
For further information on the Bird watching for All events telephone (01704) 570173 and for details of the Southport Pier Extravaganza telephone (01704) 395511.
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