THURROCK schools have received awards for promoting healthy eating and the well-being of pupils and staff.

Thurrock Healthy Schools Programme is a joint initiative with South West Essex Primary Care Trust and Thurrock Council.

A Healthy Schools and Personal Social and Health Education awards ceremony was held at The Bell in Horndon-on-the-Hill.

The event was organised by Healthy School programme managers, Wendi Lee and Beverley Hoyte.

Janet Bannister from the healthy schools programme, said: "It was a successful event that went really well. Wendi and Beverley were very proud to present the awards."

The ceremony was attended by headteachers and PSHE co-ordinators.

Guest speaker was Julien Kramer, Thurrock Council's interim director of children's services who was also joined by education portfolio holder, councillor Mike Revell.

Schools receiving Healthy Schools Awards were: Deneholm Primary School, Chafford Hundred Primary School, West Thurrock Primary School, Dilkes Primary School. Woodside Primary School, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Somers Heath Primary School.

Borough teachers who received PSHE certificates were: Lisa Fifield - Dilkes Primary, Kiki Freese - Purfleet Primary, Stella Milchalkewicz - Grays Convent, Hannah Clare - Hassenbrook, Angela Davies - Treetops, and school nurses from the Grays Health Centre Jackie Mussett and Tracy Herbert.