​Cotswold chef Rob Rees has been made a tsar of healthy school dinners.

Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, has appointed Mr Rees as the new chairman of the board at the School Food Trust.

Mr Rees MBE, who lives in Oakridge, takes over from Prue Leith, who is retiring from the post.

He said: “It is a great honour to be given the opportunity to chair an organisation that is undertaking work that is so critical to the future health, wellbeing and performance of our children and communities.

“The School Food Trust has made great progress already, introducing new nutritional standards and changing how school food is perceived.

“However, there is still much to do to encourage more children to try healthier school lunches, to promote the importance of the school lunch in tackling obesity and in improving the entire experience of lunchtime for young people.”

Mr Rees is a founder member of the School Food Trust and has been on the board for the past five years.

He has campaigned around issues on education, health, nutrition, food safety and consumer issues for many years.

He is also director of a successful consultancy company and chief executive of the Wiggly Worm charity, which uses food projects to help and rehabilitate vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

Mr Balls said: “Rob Rees brings considerable knowledge, experience and expertise which will add real value to the important work of the School Food Trust in the coming years.”

The School Food Trust’s chief executive Judy Hargadon said: “Rob’s vision and passion for food, coupled with his business and campaigning experience, make him uniquely qualified for this task.”

The School Food Trust is an independent body with the remit of transforming school food and food skills.