FREE fruit is being handed out to children at Morrisons in Barrow to stop unsold food being chucked in the bin and to improve kids' diets.

The Free Fruit for Kids scheme will mean that this fruit does not go to waste. Every week Morrisons expects to give away 40,000 pieces of fruit that is within its ‘sell by’ window but is at risk of not being sold.

A range of ‘child friendly’ types of fruit including bananas, apples, pears, sweet clementines, and satsumas will be offered in the store’s entrance.

The fruit will be located on a wooden stand at the front of Morrisons greengrocery area.

Every morning Morrisons Barrow’s greengrocers will replenish the free fruit stand with produce that otherwise has a chance of being binned.

Children can help themselves to the fruit as they shop with their parents. It is hoped that the scheme will encourage children to taste and enjoy different types of fruit, which will contribute towards them eating their 5-a-day.

Roger Taylor, store manager at Morrisons Barrow, said: “Sometimes our store is left with unsold fruit and customers would prefer us to find a use for it. So we’re putting out fruit - that’s at risk of not being sold - for children to help themselves. It’s healthy for them, reduces food waste in our store and will help make shopping easier for parents.”

Morrisons data shows reducing food waste is one of customers’ top concerns. Earlier this year the supermarket committed to increase the number of wonky fruit and veg products by 50 per cent.