SCHOOLchildren proved they were rising stars in the kitchen after making bread with a professional chef.

Half a dozen young bakers from Leyburn Community Primary School were invited behind the scenes at Darlington College of Technology to see how things are done in the college's bistro.

Head of catering Peter Bell met the group of nine and ten-year-olds after watching them at the Wensleydale Food Festival, in Leyburn, last month, where they were involved in a cookery demonstration.

After travelling to Darlington, they spent the morning with senior catering tutor Donna Joyce learning how to make different styles of bread buns - which they ate with their lunch.

Mr Bell, who also took part in the Wensleydale Food Festival, said: "I was so pleased to see young people so enthusiastic about food that I decided to invite them to the college for lunch. While they were here it seemed the ideal opportunity for them to have a go in our professional kitchens."

Leyburn School headteacher Anne Hendry said: "We have been baking as part of a science project on how materials change. The children had to design their own breads by making a basic dough then adding various ingredients.

"We have been involved with the food festival since it started; one of our governors helps to organise it. This year we did something on a balanced diet; that no food was bad food as long as the balance is right.

"We got chatting with Peter who invited us to the college and this has given the children the opportunity to experience what they have learned."