THE Government has announced that junk food will be banned from all the vending machines and meals in English schools within a year.

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly announced the ban from next September at the Labour Party conference on Thursday.

Ministers had said vending machines could be excluded from a crackdown but they will now be banned from stocking sweets, crisps and high-sugar drinks.

The School Meals Review Panel, which was set up in response to TV chef Jamie Oliver highlighting the problems of school dinners, is to announce nutritional standards that will be compulsory in schools this week.

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

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

"Schools are not there to make a profit for the confectionery and soft drink industry. They are there to care for children.

"The moment they walk through the school doors they will get healthy food."

Among those items on the banned list will be:

Burgers and sausages made from 'meat slurry' and reconstituted meat

Sweets, chocolate bars and chocolate biscuits

Snacks including crisps, salted nuts, tortilla chips and rice crackers.

So how do pupils across mid Cheshire view this announcement?

Quite surprisingly, on the whole there has been an excellent reaction with some students pointing out that their schools had been on the healthy trail for some time.

Year 11 pupils Hannah Langford and Rebecca Hardman, both 15, from Middlewich High School, welcomed the initiative.

Rebecca said: "It is a good idea. We should be educated at a young age. Cereal bars in vending machines are healthier.

"The Government are trying to make a point of reducing fat intake. They are trying to help.

"Occasionally I do like eating sweets and chocolate but it's a good idea to keep them out of school."

Hannah said: "They are right about healthy eating and are trying to improve it. I know chocolate is consumed outside school but it is a good thing to keep it healthy inside school."

Mike Smith and Jim Wakeley, both 16, from Middlewich High School had a different view.

Mike said: "I don't see why burgers should disappear. You can make healthy burgers. On his show Jamie Oliver made burgers out of real meat, although I can see the objection if the burgers are mass produced."

Jim said: "It's just headline grabbing socialist scaremongering Blairite babble which fails to address the other problems."

Timothy Veal, 14, and Tuesday King, 15, from Rudheath High School, said their school had been following a healthy eating plan for the past couple of years.

Three days a week junk food, such as sausages and burgers, is taken off the menu and the Year 10s don't think banning it altogether will have much impact.

Timothy said: "I think it is fantastic. Pupils have reacted really well to it.

"I do like burgers but I try to stick to the healthy option in school. Students are used now to putting health first."

Tuesday said: "I don't think the Government is interfering, it's just a way of saying we are trying to help."

Woodford Lodge High School in Winsford has its own student council.

Chairman Sam Whalley, 15, said the school had been eating healthily for a while.

Sam said: "Healthy eating really does improve concentration, especially in the afternoon lessons after lunch.

"Before we used to split the canteen up with chips on one side and healthy eating on the other side.

"This year they have made it completely healthy. It helps the mind."

The students are anxious to take their ideas away with them so they get the same kind of food at home.

Tom Newall, 13, said: "My mum loves the idea of healthy eating."

Joanne Tringham, who co-ordinates the healthy schools programme at Woodford Lodge, said: "We have noticed a dramatic improvement in the concentration of pupils.

"We have a credit card system in the canteen which itemises what the pupils are eating.

"Parents can request a printout if they want to monitor what is being eaten."