CHILDREN were feeling the beet at a vegetable-themed school disco held to celebrate their work with a local author.

Many a mum must have worked long into the night to create the costumes for the fun event – with children dressed as carrots, broccoli, tomatoes and all manner of healthy fare.

It follows a series of talks, workshops and planting sessions with Verwood children’s author Debbie Coggan, who wrote and self-published I Don’t Like Vegetables, featuring a host of crunchy characters including twins Broc and Ollie, Pete Root, Jackie Potato, and Molly Flower to name a few.

Deputy head Kate Masters said: “The children love the characters and the parents have made some absolutely fabulous costumes.”

Traditional disco goodies like fizzy pop and crisps were replaced by carrots, sugar snap peas, tomatoes and fruit – again reflecting the characters in the book.

She added: “It’s about encouraging healthy eating and teaching the children about fruit and veg.”

Author Debbie, 51, mum to three grown-up sons, said she was delighted with the children’s response.

“The whole idea behind the book was to introduce vegetables to children, without dictating to them – as soon as you start saying you’ve got to have this or that, or eat your greens, they switch off.

“The first thing I did was read my book, then I brought in a big bag of veg for the children to handle. Things young children wouldn’t have come across like beetroot in its fresh form, or aubergine. They found it fascinating, They were squeezing them and smelling them. I was completely overwhelmed by their enthusiasm.”

She thanked Holly Hedge Nurseries and Golden Acres for donating seeds and flower pots for the children.