Almost a quarter of primary school starters in Somerset are overweight or obese and the figure increases to nearly a third by Year 6, according to an independent report.

Dr Caroline Gamlin, Somerset's director of public health, has welcomed new nutrition guidelines for pre-school children.

She said: "These are the first nationally-recognised guidelines on the foods childcare providers should offer young children.

"We support the new guidelines and stress that it has never been more important for both parents and providers of childcare to establish healthy eating habits at an early age. It is sound advice to pay particular attention to portion size which is very important for children aged from one to five and limit foods high in fat and sugar."

The School Food Trust website offers seasonal meal ideas.

Dr Gamlin added: "Encouraging children to reduce the amount of time they spend sitting is also important. We would encourage the under fives to take 180 minutes of activity per day largely through encouraging active play. Sixty minutes per day is encouraged for 5-18 year olds."

The guidelines have been launched by a charity called The School Food Trust, which is working to reduce the rising epidemic in childhood obesity.

The new guidelines are voluntary and target childcare providers after findings revealed that many young children were being given food during their pre-school years better suited to adults.

In Somerset approximately 23 per cent of four-year-olds are overweight, as are 30 per cent of 10 to 11-year-olds.