MORRISONS is offering free fruit to children to prevent unsold produce being thrown away.

The Free Fruit for Kids scheme will mean that this fruit - which is ripe, sweet and of good eating quality - does not go to waste at the stores in Winsford and Middlewich and will offer young people one of their five-a-day.

Morrisons is the first supermarket in the country to roll out this initiative nationwide to all 493 stores.

Every week the retailer expects to give away 40,000 pieces of fruit that is within its sell by window but is at risk of not being sold. The company is giving up the opportunity to sell this fruit.

A range of fruit including bananas, apples, pears, clementines and satsumas will be offered in the store’s entrance.

The fruit will be located on a wooden stand at the front of the greengrocery area at the stores on

Every morning the store will replenish the free fruit stand with produce that otherwise has a chance of being binned.

Children can help themselves to the fruit as they shop with their parents. It is hoped that the scheme will encourage children to taste and enjoy different types of fruit, which will contribute towards them eating their five-a-day.

Les Ingram, store manager of Morrisons in Winsford, said: “Sometimes our store is left with unsold fruit and customers would prefer us to find a use for it. So we’re putting out fruit - that’s at risk of not being sold - for children to help themselves.

"It’s healthy for them, reduces food waste in our store and will help make shopping easier for parents.”

Morrisons data shows reducing food waste is one of customers’ top concerns. Earlier this year the supermarket committed to increase the number of wonky fruit and veg products by 50 per cent.