HARD work and unsociable hours has led to a shortage of chefs which could plunge the region's restaurant trade into crisis.

One restaurant, Sam's, in Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, was forced to close for two weeks because of a lack of staff.

Barry Dowson, who runs the business with his partner, Sam King, said that when the head chef and second chef left he was unable to find replacements of the right standard.

"We could find chefs, but not of the right quality we require, and it has taken us two weeks to find the team we need.

"But we would rather close than serve sub-standard food."

The restaurant re-opened after the couple appointed Sean Wilkinson as chef.

Mr Dowson said: "The people coming through the catering colleges do not seem to be receiving the same standard of training, but the biggest problem is that people don't want to be chefs because of the unsociable hours."

These concerns were reiterated by Bill Johnston, of recruitment consultancy North- East Chefs, who said he felt standards in catering training had declined compared with 20 years ago.

"The shortage we have is a skills shortage, and that is evident right across the industry," he said.

"Personally, I think it is because of apprenticeships being discontinued in the 1980s.

"The standard of training has definitely dropped, but the problem is compounded by the fact people do not want to go into the catering industry any more, because of the hours."

Peter Bell, head of the school of hotel catering at Darlington College of Technology, said he was inundated with requests for catering staff.

The college, regarded as among the best catering colleges in the country, has an excellent reputation with employers.

Mr Bell said: "Every day, I have several employers on the phone calling for staff, and many of the staff trained here are leaving the country to work in restaurants and hotels all over the world."

He said that now was a good time to get into the industry, because students were virtually guaranteed a well-paid job at the end of their training.

"If you apply yourself, there are definitely rewards," he said.