A Norfolk school is to get a royal thank you for its champion efforts in helping to lead the school meal revolution.

A Norfolk school is to get a royal thank you for its champion efforts in helping to lead the school meal revolution.

Docking Primary School, near Burnham Market, is the only school in the county invited to a special lunch hosted by Prince Charles to celebrate the role of school cooks in providing healthy food for the next generation.

The school, which also caters for three other nearby primary schools, was chosen because it sources much of its food from local suppliers and because four out of five of the children from the schools regularly enjoy tucking into Docking Primary's hot dinners.

Catering manager Sharon Harwood and head teacher Susan Williamson will join about 120 other cooks and headteachers from across the UK for the event at Clarence House in London next Thursday .

Mrs Williamson said: "We have been providing organic, locally sourced meals at Docking School since 2004, enjoyed by children and a weekly luncheon club.

"We are always looking to improve the quality of our school meals and to promote healthy eating. "This reception with Prince Charles and the School Food Trust gives recognition to our school, the cook, her team and Norfolk County Services for supporting the school's healthy eating policy."

Mrs Harwood said: "We serve mostly organic meat and local fruit and vegetables where possible,

with meals like roast pork, cheesy topped cottage pie, lasagne and wholemeal pizza. The food is very popular with the children - especially our roast dinners."

Next week's event is organised by the School Food Trust, which is the body responsible for the school meals revolution.

Prue Leith, chairwoman of the School Food Trust, said: "For so long much of the hard work and dedication that exist in school kitchens has gone unnoticed. This event shouts from the rooftops that school food is changing and that this is hugely important children."

She added: "Docking School was chosen to attend because they have an 80pc uptake of school lunches and are a good example of local sourcing, with meat from a local meat supplier. They are linked to East Anglia Food Link who work towards a more sustainable and localised food system."