AN innovative project is being launched in Burnley to encourage workers to eat more healthily.

Burnley Food Forum, funded by East Lancashire Primary Care Trust (PCT), is giving away fruit to staff at 40 companies across the borough.

The firms, ranging from small shops to manufacturers, will have a weekly fruit delivery over the next ten weeks.

The Free Fruit for Burnley Businesses scheme came about after the forum applied to the PCT for funding to cover the cost of the project.

Burnley Council's environmental health unit, a key member of the forum, contacted local businesses with 10 staff or more to see if they were interested. The first 40 to reply were given places.

Organisers hope the scheme will prove so popular that companies will continue to run it once the 10 weeks is up, paid for either by the company or by workers clubbing together to cover the cost.

Environmental health officer Jayne Enright said: "The aim is to encourage people to eat more healthily by eating more fruit.

"We're also hoping to raise awareness about the benefits of eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day as part of a healthy diet.

"Hopefully the firms taking part will see the benefits of a healthier workforce in terms of the benefits for their business.

As well as delivering fruit baskets to each firm, they will also get free information on the benefits of eating fresh fruit. I'm not aware of any other similar scheme in East Lancashire so we're leading the way."

The fruit will be sourced and delivered by a Warrington-based firm Northern Harvest.

It sources fruit from small producers in Lancashire and Cheshire.