Junk food vending machines will be banned in schools within a year.

Education secretary Ruth Kelly told delegates at the Labour Conference yesterday that all crisps, chocolate, sugary drinks and other unhealthy foods will be banned from schools - including products sold in vending machines - by next September.

Brighton and Hove City Council also announced that a new healthier menu piloted at a handful of schools last term by caterer Scolarest will be rolled out across all 63 state primary schools.

Ms Kelly told The Argus: "From the moment children walk through the school gates in the morning until the moment they leave, they should only be offered healthy food and that includes what is offered in vending machines as well as canteens."

In her conference speech, she said: "I am absolutely clear that the scandal of junk food served every day in school canteens must end.

"So today I can announce that we will ban poor quality processed bangers and burgers being served in schools from next September.

"And because children need healthy options throughout the school day, I can also announce that from next September no school will be able to have vending machines selling crisps, chocolates or sugary fizzy drinks."

In an interview with BBC Breakfast, she said that meat products made from reconstituted meat slurry would also be banned.

Sylvie Howitt, who together with her husband Bob launched a campaign to improve school dinners Sussex in the wake of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's TV programme earlier this year said she was pleased with the latest announcement but worried teenagers might not accept the change.

Mrs Howitt, of Holland Road, Hove, who has two daughters Lucie, five, and Sophie, three months, said: "I am all for this but the alternatives to crisps are things like dried carrot and parsnip which are acquired tastes. I don't know whether the children will chose to eat them and how feasible it will be in practice."

She said the change could encourage older pupils to leave school at break times to buy junk food from nearby shops.

The new menu for Brighton and Hove schools is possible because of millions of pounds of extra Government funding agreed by Ruth Kelly in March.

The new meals provide pupils with more fresh fruit, vegetables and salads and more home-cooked dishes with reduced salt, sugar and fat.

Debbie Crossingham, headteacher of Westdene Primary School in Bankside where the menu was piloted, said: "The children were asked to evaluate the new meals and gave it an overwhelming thumbs up and many more staff members are staying for lunch now too."

September 29 2005