SCHOOLCHILDREN in more than 150 Derbyshire schools are to link with older people to grow and eat healthy food.

Schools and centres were able to bid for up to £10,000 each from the £510,000 Growing Better Together county council project.

The money will be used to boost outdoor learning by encouraging children to plant and grow healthy food and share experience and knowledge with members of the older generation.

The project will end in July but outdoor learning projects set up in the schools and centres are hoped to be continued for the benefit of youngsters and their communities.

Projects which will receive money include Aldercar Community Language College, in Langley Mill, where £3,202 will help to transform an unused courtyard into a vegetable garden.

At Crich Junior School, £5,750 will buy a greenhouse and tools for a vegetable and fruit growing area, which pupils will work on with the village gardening club.

Councillor Anne Western, council cabinet member for children's services, said: "This is an innovative way of getting youngsters working and learning outdoors.

"We hope it will spark children's interest in eating healthily and learning new skills."