REGULAR readers of this page will be well aware of a drive to ensure that all schoolchildren in Worcestershire continue to receive free milk.

The benefits of ensuring children, especially those in less well off areas, exercise their right to this daily dose of nutrition are endless. After all, only healthy bodies have healthy minds and only healthy minds can learn.

There are also benefits later on in life. Not least it helps prevent osteoporosis, which costs the NHS £920-980m a year.

Free school milk was recently saved after Ministers voted 10 to five in favour of exempting it from EU subsidy cuts. The National Dairy Council had warned that 40 per cent of nursery and primary children in Britain would have lost out.

But there was good news from Brussels last week when West Midlands MEP John Corrie revealed the prospect of improved milk subsidies.

According to Mr Corrie, schools throughout the European Union may soon receive larger milk subsidies under a proposal drawn up by the European Parliament.

"The subsidies, which date back to 1977 were introduced on the grounds that milk contributes vital health nutrition for schoolchildren," he said.

"It provides a significant proportion of protein, calcium and mineral requirements necessary to develop the growth of youngsters as well as preventing osteoporosis in later life.

"It is particularly essential today because lifestyles and eating patterns have changed over the years and an increasing number of children were going to school without an adequate breakfast.

"They resulting deficiencies can tend to lead to a lack of concentration in the classroom. It has also been suggested that drinking yoghurt and similar milk-based beverages should be added to the scheme."

Mr Corrie stresses that the Parliament is calling for the EU to pay 95 per cent of the cost of the subsidies and so faces a clash with the Commission, which is proposing to limit an increase of 50 per cent.

"Quite a battle lies ahead," he said. "But one well worth winning."

I couldn't agree more. This page has long argued that this is an important issue. It's easy to dismiss it as just a bottle of milk. But for thousands of schoolchildren it represents much, much more.

Meanwhile, in Herefordshire, schoolchildren at Madley Primary School became some of the first in the country to receive specially designed Mr Men and Little Miss Dairygate milk cartons.

It would seem the days of warm milk bottles at breaktime are well and truly over. Instead Associated Co-operative Creameries has decided to turn milk-time into something a little more fun.

The cartons, one third of a pint, carry a series of storylines and cartoon illustrations and also feature Beano characters.

"The special milk packs have been very well received by the pupils as they can relate to the characters and therefore be educated about milk in a way they understand," said headteacher Mr Osborne.

"The storylines and the colourful designs have gone some way in giving milk playgrounds credibility"

It's good to see that while the politicians are fighting to retain children's rights to free milk, British industry is doing its bit to ensure the youngsters still want to drink it.