Children tuck in at new Telford school cafe

Pupils at a school in Telford enjoyed eating outside for the first time when their new courtyard cafe opened. The youngsters have waited a month for the cafe to finally serve food.

The unit was winched into place at the Charlton School, in Wellington, during half term last month.

It had to be lowered into place by crane as its new home is in a courtyard in the centre of the school complex.

• See more pictures in our gallery to your right

Pupils look set to christen the cafe, The Quad, and new signs will be created for it.

Jacquie Thomas-Clemson, spokesman for the school, said: "We have had all the benches cleaned and new umbrellas to create an outdoor eating area.

"The students are very pleased with it and have been desperate for it to open."

She said the cafe would serve hot and cold during lunch with plans to also serve breakfast from 8am, including porridge.

As part of the launch Aldridge-based food firm Theo's Food Company went along to promote its new healthy fried chicken meal, which will also be available.

Headteacher Lee Tristham said: "We have 1,200 students and the canteen is really designed for only 600, so when we started a new catering contract with Shire Catering just before the summer, they wanted us to think of ways to better manage the catering.

"We decided one way of doing that was to create different food outlets dotted around the school."