CHILDREN are being taught about fancy food in a travelling kitchen-classroom.

Pupils from Tanfield Specialist College of Engineering and Science hopped on the Cooking Bus, currently touring the country as part of the Food Standards Agency's Focus on Food campaign.

Pupils can learn to cook anything from spicy filled nan bread to Caribbean red pepper salsa.

Teachers are also taking part in sessions to improve their food teaching skills.

The focus of the visit is to develop an understanding of healthy eating, food safety and food preparation techniques, and to improve practical skills.for cooking.

Director of Focus on Food Anita Cormac said: "If we want our children to eat well, they have to learn to cook first. The core of the lesson is hands-on experience and a lot of fun."

On Tuesday, year seven pupils learned how to make roast vegetable cous cous, feta, orange and red onion salad and a Christmas morning smoothie.

Yesterday, spicy filled nan bread, pudine chatni and tomato and mint kachumbar were on the menu for year eight.

Year nine will make jerk chicken, Caribbean red pepper salsa and Caribbean fruit salad today.