MORE than one in 10 four year olds in Salford are overweight, according to a new report published this week.

Figures in the Salford Local Area Agreement show that more than 11 per cent of children in reception classes at the city’s primary schools were obese in the financial year 2007/08.

The report - which also reveals that one in five children are obese by the time they hit 11 - was published ahead of a full council meeting at Swinton Civic Centre yesterday (Wednesday).

The authority has unveiled targets aimed at reducing the number of children who are overweight.

The council is working with Salford Primary Care Trust (PCT) and schools to encourage healthy eating and to change attitudes towards food.

Councillor John Warmisham, the council’s lead member for children’s services, said: "We are working alongside the PCT to try to tackle this problem.

"Obviously, it is of great concern to us but we are working very hard to try to combat this.

"We are funding new educational programmes to teach parents how to cook vegetables, and to teach them about eating healthily.

"This is something the council is taking very seriously."

One such educational initiative is run by Salford mum Diane Watson.

Diane volunteers at a scheme called Cooking Angels, which teaches parents how to cook healthy meals for their children.

She also works with children at the Belvedere Sure Start Centre, in Pendleton, showing other mums how to make cheap and healthy food, and promoting exercise.

Diane said: "We work quite closely with all the mums to teach them about healthy living.

"It’s just things like giving your kids the right things at the right time and being sensible.

"The council are bringing in new initiatives, like now we are not allowed to give them biscuits and juice - it has to be things like milk and water and fruit."

Carol Wilson, who works at the centre, said: "We do all sorts of things with the children, especially for parents who maybe can’t afford these activities normally.

"For example, we take them swimming or to the gym and this normally costs over £3, but our sessions are only 50p."

Diane’s Cooking Angels classes were originally funded by the PCT and became so successful that they are now self-supporting.

A spokeswoman for Salford Primary Care Trust said: "We have developed a number of intervention programmes and projects, which target childhood obesity.

"We will continue to work with Salford City Council and other partners to combat levels of obesity in the youngest members of our population."