Over 3,000 school children have taken part in an online cookery lesson with Michelin Star Chef and internet sensation Poppy O’Toole.

The Bromsgrove chef, known for her regular TV appearances and co-hosting BBC Three’s Young MasterChef, hosted a live cookery demonstration at Penns Primary School, with 38 other schools following along via a video guide online.

The Cookathon formed part of the Health for Life programme, an initiative that encourages healthy eating, physical activity and growing your own food.

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In this year's edition, O’Toole created a special recipe that the young students were able to recreate in their schools.

Not only confined to schools, the recipe, which consists of marinated lemon and honey chicken kebabs, homemade flatbreads, salad and mint yoghurt dressing, is also accessible to families on a step-by-step guide available online.

Commenting on the event, O’Toole said: "I’m really excited to have been involved with the Health for Life Cookathon this year.

"Getting children involved with and inspired by cooking and healthy eating early on is fantastic for building their life skills.

"Health for Life and the Cookathon inspire the next generation of amazing chefs to pursue careers in the industry – as well as encouraging a life-long interest in growing and cooking food."

Helen Lowe, headteacher at Penns Primary School, said: "It is vitally important that children learn to cook and eat healthily from an early age, and Poppy truly helped inspire and teach pupils brand-new skills and habits that they will use every day."

The Health for Life programme, created and funded by Mondelēz International and delivered in schools by Services for Education, has been active over the last 12 years, covering 175 schools in Birmingham.

It not only encourages healthy living but also provides support and funds to introduce facilities and enhance the curriculum for healthier lifestyle activities.

For more information and to watch the step-by-step guide for O'Toole's recipe, visit www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/health-for-life/.