Corner shops have been told to sell more fresh fruit and vegetables to encourage healthy eating.

The Department of Health will provide grants worth £600,000 to small shopkeepers, mostly in deprived areas, so that they can stock fruit and vegetables foods and help combat obesity.

An initial scheme in Scotland, involving 500 stores, led to a 20% increase in profits for shopkeepers.

Trials under the Change4Life scheme will start in corner shops in north-east England soon, due to its ‘poor general health record compared to other parts of the country’.

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