PUPILS at Todmorden High School are paying for their school dinners with their fingerprints.

The school is the first in Calderdale to use the biometric till system, which takes a fingerprint scan from each child and then allocates them a unique number.

Parents pay for meals by cheque, so the pupils are not involved in any cash transactions.

When the child goes to the till they place their finger on a scanner and their number identifies them, bringing up their current balance. The system can also note if a child has any allergies or special requirements.

Catering manager Tony Mulgrew, said the system had helped with the management of food stock. "We can get a better picture of the healthy food children are buying. In time we will be able to see the most popular items.

"The system has helped us to erase the stigma attached to children who receive free school dinners as there is no need for them to be identified."