ONE of the most popular primary school campaigns, organised by Le Crunch French Apples, is back!

Schools around the country will focus on a healthy approach to eating and lifestyle when they return from the mid-term break as the students paint, draw, photograph or otherwise create posters depicting how they and their classmates get active and become health heroes.

"Last year we received nearly 2,900 entries in the Le Crunch Health Heroes poster competition. This year we want to reach the 3,000 mark so we need primary school children everywhere to put their thinking caps on, get their creative apple-juices flowing, consider the 'core' healthy lifestyle messages they want to depict and make sure they are not 'pipped' at the post by getting their entries in to us well before the closing date on December 7", said Jacques Vanoye, president of the French Apples Marketing Commission.

There are three different age categories and the best from each will be on display in Dunnes Stores outlets next Spring. Shoppers will be invited to cast votes for their favourites and the winners will each win a ¤150 toy, music, sports or art voucher as well as lots of Le Crunch goodies. All teachers who enter the competition will be included in a draw to win one of three sets of return tickets to Paris with Air France.

The Le Crunch Health Heroes competition is about more than just fun. The format has been specially devised to support the curriculum and act as a genuinely useful teacher's aid across a whole range of classes including science, language, geography, drama and physical education.

Feedback from teachers has highlighted the benefits in terms of creating a community project as the whole school can get involved at both the entry stage and this extends to the whole town in terms of casting votes for the finalists. They also mentioned the great confidence boost gained by participating children. Many of the schools reported the project had a significant impact on the students in terms of healthy eating.

Parents who would like their children to take part in the competition independently of their schools may obtain an entry pack by calling 021 - 455 0434.

Meanwhile, the Le Crunch look has undergone a bit of a re-vamp. The brand's look has been modernised while the fruit's French heritage is now emphasised with the slogan "Oui to Le Crunch" incorporated into the logo.