By Duncan Bick

Last updated at 09:18, Saturday, 23 June 2012

A television doctor spoke to some pint-sized Cumbrians about the benefits of drinking milk.

Dr Hilary Jones with, from left, Isla Henderson, Conor Wharton, Dr Hilary Ellie Anderton and Euan Fletcher

Hilary Jones, the health editor of breakfast show Daybreak, visited Thursby Primary School yesterday to tell pupils about the white stuff.

And he was impressed by what he saw there.

“They are very clever kids,” he said.

“At this stage there is no childhood obesity, which is fantastic. They are obviously being well brought up.”

Dr Jones, 59, who also has his own practice in Hampshire, said milk was possibly one of the best things children could drink during the day.

“It’s the nearest thing you can get to whole food in a glass,” he said.

He visited the school as part of the ‘Cool Milk’ organisation which gives free and subsidised supplies of the drink to schools around the United Kingdom.

The drink is a good source of calcium, which helps to build bone strength. It also contains protein and a large number of different vitamins.

Dr Jones also emphasised that having a milk break can help children concentrate in lessons and provides them with time to socialise with their friends.

It also helps to rehydrate children.

Dr Jones had a milk break when he was at school when the drink was often combined with a malt mixture.

He was impressed by the amount the pupils knew about milk.

Sofi Willis, 26, a key account manager for Cool Milk, said in some schools pupils thought milk came from a supermarket rather than a cow.

Dr Jones was joined at the school by Duncan Fairbairn, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for schools and learning, as well as Wayne Jackson, of North Lakes Food in Penrith, which provides milk to the school in Thursby.

Both were impressed at the children’s knowledge. However, none of them could answer a question from one child as to why the drink is called milk.

One pupil who enjoyed the visit was Hannah Barnes, nine, who is in year four.

“I think it was really good,” she said. “Milk makes you healthy and I like the taste of it. I learned that you should drink at least two glasses of it every day.”

First published at 08:56, Saturday, 23 June 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk