SCHOOL dinners can sometimes be grim and cheerless affairs – but Hungerford Primary School in Hungerford Road, Holloway, has undergone a mini-revolution to bring smiles back to lunchtime.

SCHOOL dinners can sometimes be grim and cheerless affairs - but Hungerford Primary School in Hungerford Road, Holloway, has undergone a mini-revolution to bring smiles back to lunchtime.

The dining room has been smartened up with tablecloths, proper plates and fruit juice instead of water.

The kids have longer to spend over lunch, they often eat with the teachers and the food counters have been lowered so the children can see what is on offer.

Actor and local resident Siobhan Hayes - Abi in BBC sitcom My Family - made an appearance to see the difference for herself.

Siobhan, whose mother works at the school, said: "It is great of them to make it more sociable. The kids look like they are enjoying themselves. When I was at school all the food seemed to come in massive steel containers, but here everything looks fresh."

Pupil Ronnie Ewens, six, said: "The food is delicious. I used to have packed lunch but I prefer school dinners."

Amy Vo, eight, added: "I like school dinners, they are delicious. I am eating cheese and egg - it's good!"

Headmaster Brian Bench said the changes, funded by the North Road Community Fund, were meant to re-create the family-style dinners.

He said: "That is what so many don't have. You can see the difference in their smiles.