BUDDING gourmets cooked up a treat when they went on a tastebud tour of the world.

Teams of pupils, aged 11 to 14, from six secondary schools, battled it out to see who could produce the most tempting two-course meals for £10, in an international masterchef competition.

Framwellgate School, in Durham, emerged the overall winner with its French menu, featuring steak followed by profiteroles.

The New College Durham prize for the best-presented meal was won by the pupils from Blackfyne Community School, Blackhill, who produced Chinese chicken steak with fried rice followed by toffee apples and pears.

Glen Dene Special School, Easington Colliery, went French with ratatouille and apple tart, and won the prize for the best-researched dish.

The competition, at New College Durham, was organised by Durham County Council's international office to help youngsters understand about the cuisine of other countries.

Brian Stobie, of the international office, said: "We set them a budget of £10 for the ingredients to provide a two-course menu from the country of their choice.

"They had to give reasons for that choice and show evidence of research into the country and the cuisine."

The judges included Liz Graham, the county council's education inspector for food technology.

The Framwellgate School team wins a morning's work experience at Knight's Restaurant, in Durham's Kingslodge Hotel, followed by lunch. The other winners receive books.