Children from a junior school heard how leading a healthy lifestyle can help to reduce the risk of cancer in later life.

The key message from Cancer Research UK's Reduce the Risk campaign - that half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle - was symbolised through fruit and vegetables sliced in half.

And the pupils of Balfour School in Balfour Road, Brighton, gave it the thumbs-up.

Headteacher Tony Jones said: "We have a healthy eating policy and encourage our children to eat fruit as snacks and have juices rather than fizzy drinks.

"It makes sense to try and educate the children now in ways that will engender a positive and self-responsible attitude towards lifestyle choices."

Lynn Daly Cancer Research UK's spokeswoman for Sussex, said: "It's fantastic to see the children enthusiastically learning about our Reduce the Risk messages and having fun at the same time.

"While an individual's risk of developing cancer increases with age, it is vital that we target our prevention messages at young people because our behaviour as children can have a real impact on our chances of developing cancer later in life."