PUPILS from Carmarthenshire primary schools have been sharing their ideas on healthy eating through posters and writing.

The youngsters have been taking part in a competition organised by Carmarthenshire Healthy Schools, Carmarthenshire Libraries and Meryl Gravell of the ARCH – A Regional Collaboration for Health - an initiative, to write a story or poem on the implications of eating too much sugar.

The message sent out to schools is that it has a detrimental effect on the health of children and young people.

With the county sitting second in the table of obese 4-5 year olds in Wales, the county recognises the need to raise awareness of the dangers and impact of eating too much sugar.

The competition was held along the following criteria:

lFoundation Phase: poster design competition promoting healthy eating

lYears 3 and 4: A short story or a poem based on the importance of physical activity and/or overeating. .

lYears 5 and 6: A short story or a poem based on Oral Hygiene and the impact of too much sugar on teeth.

Prizes awarded included admission tickets to the leisure centre, Parc y Scarlets tickets, a family day ticket to Ffos Las and a family entry ticket to Pembrey Country Park.

The winners Emily Davies, Llyr Davies, Shannon Mainwaring, and Charley Eatley

were presented with their prizes at an award ceremony at Ammanford Library.

Communities First supplied medals and trophies, and Carmarthenshire Libraries hosted the event with goody bags and information on library resources and a tour of the building that will encompass the new ‘Stordy Creadigol’.

Executive board member for culture, tourism and sport Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths said: “We believe that holding competitions such as this is a great way to engage with children regarding healthy eating/living.

"Congratulations to the winners and well done to all who took part.

“Following the competition it is envisaged that all the winners’ work will be part of a booklet that will give children, parents and teachers a resource to use in the future.”

The artwork will be exhibited at: Ammanford Library until Friday August 5 for parents to see their children’s work.