A NEW range of food at a village pub and restaurant has created a new job for a young chef.

Hoping to reflect its existing chefs' individual skills, management at the Fighting Cocks, in Middleton St George, near Darlington, set out to design new menus.

But the project proved so successful that the pub has ended up having to take on a new chef, Danny McGladdery, formerly of the Otter and Fish, in Hurworth, and other restaurants in the area.

Danny joins Phil Goldsbrough, the Fighting Cocks' manager and chef, and head chef Steve Clayton.

Mr Goldsborough said: "Each chef has contrasting ideas and come from very different backgrounds which, when brought together, make our dishes that little bit special."