A FOOD firm has dished up a trip of a lifetime for four teenagers to celebrate becoming the town's largest employer.

International Cuisine, which launched a £2.8m expansion on Thursday, employs 500 people at Consett's Hownsgill Industrial Estate, near the site of the former steelworks.

To help publicise the milestone, it asked local comprehensives - Moorside Community College and Lanchester St Bede's - to choose four pupils for a trip to Singapore, where its parent company is based.

But one winner, 17-year-old Darren Thompson, of Dipton, caused his mother to miss the trip.

Nicole Thompson, who is personal assistant to the firm's managing director, Bill Connolly, was to accompany the youngsters on the trip, but she dropped out after her son was selected.

Other winners were Sarah Clark, 16, of Lanchester, Zoe Stephenson, 15, of Consett and Michael Bridgewater, 15, of Delves Lane.

The four were selected from 170 pupils who completed application forms and underwent interviews.

They will represent the North-East and Britain at the Sunburst Youth Camp from December 14 to 22 which youngsters from Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia will also attend.

For Sarah and Zoe it will be the first time they have flown.

"We are all thrilled although I am still a little nervous about the 12-hour flight," said Sarah.