CATERING students played host to former Tory leader William Hague as he officially launched the birthday celebrations of a day-care group.

The Richmond MP praised the work of ABLE - Activity Based Learning Environment - a community service based in Catterick, as it marked the first anniversary of its partnership with housing association Broadacres.

Students from Darlington College served cakes and tea and presented an anniversary cake baked specially for the occasion to Mr Hague and other dignitaries.

Service manager Lynne Tomkinson said: "ABLE is an adult group which helps people with learning and physical difficulties or mental health issues.

"We are celebrating our first year of involvement with Broadacres and our first year in our new premises at the sports pavilion in Catterick, which allows us to support local people in their own community.

"We are very focused on working with local people and the community at large which is why we asked Darlington College to provide the catering for today's event. In the past the College has provided us with health and social care students."

The college's learning advisor in catering, Helen Wood, said: "We offer catering for all types of functions and events both inside the college and at external venues.

"Events such as these provide the students with a real interactive working experience and help them establish greater customer service skills away from a college environment."

Student Natalie Thorpe, 16, of Catterick, added: "It's quite exciting coming out of the college to cater at a function like this. It's given us all a taste of what the job really involves."