KIDS are being armed against germs and food bugs – with briefcases.

A project, run by Burnley Council and the Food Standards Agency, sees pupils in years five and six at primary schools being given cases to make sure food is safe to eat.

Among the items inside are infra-red thermometers and ‘evidence bags’ so youngsters can collect suspect food and ‘investigate’.

Burnley environmental health officer Ilyas Patel said: “The aim is to make a serious message about food hygiene fun.

“It’s about teaching children the fundamentals of food safety using a series of exciting exercises and practical tasks.”

Bosses say pupils will also be encouraged to take what they learn home to improve food safety there.

Alison Fitzpatrick, headteacher at St Peters C of E School, Church Street, said: “The year five and six pupils have been studying personal safety issues this term and mission possible has been an excellent project to raise their awareness of food hygiene and extended their learning immensely.

“The children have really taken to the secret agent theme.”