HOSPITAL catering boss Ron McKenzie is officially one of Britain's top "dinner laddies" after triumphing in the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2004.

On Tuesday, the head of Darlington Memorial central production unit was delighted to be named as joint winner of this year's Best Dinner Lady Award.

At the awards ceremony at Birmingham, Mr McKenzie shared his title with Ian Woodhouse, chef for Stoke-on-Trent civic centre canteen. Judges simply could not decide between them.

One of the judges, Sir Don Curry, who is chairman of the Government sustainable farming and food strategy implementation group, said: "Both set a standard that should be rolled out elsewhere."

Mr McKenzie received many compliments.

Sheila Dillon, judge and presenter of The Food Programme, said: "He offers first class food all cooked on the premises and all beautifully presented."

Restaurateur Iqbal Wahhab, founder of The Cinnamon Club in Westminster as well as a member of the Better Hospital Food Panel, said Mr McKenzie's work was "a model of how hospital food can be."

Mr McKenzie, who has been head of the department for five years, said his success was a team effort.

"I have just collected the prize in recognition of my staff. I am only the chap that looks after them, but they do the business.

"It is down to them as much as myself. It is a real feather in the cap for Darlington and County Durham hospitals."

He was pleased to see hospital food finally getting the recognition it deserved for its part in the healing process.

Mr McKenzie will feature in a special edition of BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme on Sunday, 12.30-1pm, repeated on Monday, 4pm.