AN assembly member has joined primary school pupils to mark the importance of Welsh milk.

Llyr Gruffydd, AM for North Wales, met children at Ysgol Pentrecelyn, near Ruthin, ahead of World School Milk Day on Wednesday, September 25 to discuss the importance of milk to their health and the Welsh dairy industry.

The school's classes have a mid-morning carton of locally-sourced milk with fresh fruit each day, which is an opportunity for the children to drink together and socialise.

Mr Gruffydd, who attended the school on Monday, September 23, said: “World School Milk Day is an international campaign to emphasise the importance of milk for growing youngsters.

"Children require lots of nutrients and energy from foods to ensure adequate growth and development.

"A carton of semi-skimmed milk can provide 42 per cent of seven to 10-year-olds recommended daily intake for calcium and 24 per cent of their recommended protein intake."

Mr Gruffydd has been outspoken in opposition to the closure of the Llandyrnog creamery that caused 97 job losses and dealt a hammer blow to a struggling Welsh dairy industry.

The Llandyrnog site remains mothballed and Mr Gruffydd is leading an ongoing campaign to maintain dairy production in North Wales.

He said: “It’s important for the dairy industry in Wales that we promote Welsh produce in our schools and strengthen that connection between farmers and the consumers of the future.

“I will be delivering the milk provided by the National Farmers’ Union in Wales to every assembly member to remind all our politicians of the importance of good nutrition for our children and also for the dairy industry.”