SCHOOL cooks did the region proud at the weekend after they put their culinary skills to the test at the Seve Trophy.

Thirty kitchen staff from Stockton schools, who are more accustomed to feeding hungry children, were drafted in to cater for the players, officials, caddies, media and corporate guests.

While some swapped their ladles and sieves for waitress uniforms, they each mucked in to provide three meals a day for 300 people.

Anita Brown, who is head of school meals for the council, last night said she was proud of her team.

She said: "When I was told I was going to be taking care of the catering here, I was horrified. I was a bit anxious beforehand, but it has been a fantastic experience and we have all had a ball.

"The majority have been working from 6am until 8pm, and nobody has grumbled.

"I have learned that the best thing ever is to have a fantastic team, because I could not have done it without them."

The cooks were supposed to be working from the clubhouse at Wynyard, but a portable kitchen had to be brought in at the last minute because the kitchen was not ready.

But that did not stop the women turning out top-class dishes.

During the event, they went through:

* 2,000 bread rolls.

* 65kg of sirloin steak.

* 75kg of gammon.

* 1,080 salmon fillets.

* 20kg of prawns.

* 15kg of fresh crab.

The players ate 200 bananas and 150 apples every day on the course, leading Ms Brown to make a quick dash to Tesco yesterday morning when the last day's supply of bananas mysteriously went missing.

She said: "We have had no waste, just clean plates.

"I think everyone has been very happy.

"One of the caddies said he had never been so well looked-after before.

"We have had a ball, and we would do it all again -but not perhaps next week."