A WORCESTERSHIRE MP has hit out at parents who pack unhealthy school lunches for their children - saying teachers should be able to tick them off.

Nigel Huddleston says Britain's obesity epidemic is being fuelled by too many parents stuffing lunchboxes with junk food, calling it "farcical".

The Conservative, who represents Mid-Worcestershire, has also called for a longer ban on TV advertising for foods crammed with sugar, salt and unhealthy fats - suggesting it be extended to 9pm.

Your Worcester News can also reveal how the MP is backing calls for exploring a sugar tax on food manufacturers, saying the evidence is now "overwhelming".

A debate has taken place in the House of Commons about what the Government should do to help get people healthier.

Mr Huddleston's speech dominated part of the exchanges - after he called obesity stats "astounding" and "very alarming".

He said: "There has been a tremendous breakthrough in school meal standards over the past few years.

"Those of us who visit schools look on with envy at the meals now compared with the ones many of us had to suffer years ago.

"Yet in many schools up and down the country we have the farcical situation where the lunches provided are generally very healthy, but the food children themselves bring into schools, or is provided by their parents, is often not.

"We can only imagine how frustrating it is for teachers, and indeed everybody who works in schools, including my wife, to see children filling themselves up with junk food at school and knowing there is little they can do about it."

He told MPs he wanted to see nutritional guidelines published for packed lunches - and that teachers should be able to have "robust conversations" with parents about it.

During the debate he also said he was concerned about not enough play areas being included in new housing developments, and criticised the advertising industry for fuelling obesity.

"Research tells us children as young as 18 months can be influenced and are capable of recognising brands, which is a truly astounding fact," he said.

"Current regulations on TV advertising mean foods high in fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar are banned from being advertised during children’s programming.

"But many organisations have suggested that that should extend up to the 9pm watershed and with considerable reason."

He then took a swipe at the X-Factor, pointing to British Heart Foundation research which found "no fewer than 13 junk food adverts" during one show.

"This is not just about healthy eating - it is also about planning, education, labelling, information, and the cost in healthcare if we do not do anything," he added.

He also paid tribute to the work of an organisation called Commando Joe's, which hires ex-military personnel to work with schools across the UK to improve young people's behaviour, attainment and health.

* What do you think? Should the UK be levying a sugar tax on the food industry - and are parents not paying enough attention to what's in their child's lunch box? Email te@worcesternews.co.uk or call 01905 742248.