Woodhey High School pupils had a certain trepidation when they set out to spend a day cooking in the kitchens of TV celebrity chef Andrew Nutter.

Initial fears that it would be like entering TV's "Hell's Kitchen" quickly disappeared after Andrew made Year 9 and 10 pupils "very welcome".

Mrs Claire Gallie, teacher of food technology at the Ramsbottom school, said: "After seeing Hell's Kitchen on television, pupils were quite nervous. But Andrew was a real gentleman and very helpful."

Ten pupils who had won heats in a school cooking competition, were invited to prepare meals in teams of two to be judged by the chef at his restaurant in Norden.

Even Mrs Gallie and Mr Paul Baines, teacher of resistant materials, who accompanied the children, took part.

"The pupils had to cook two meals using local produce, either a starter and main course or a main course and a dessert. The chefs were extremely helpful because the pupils found it mind-boggling preparing in a professional kitchen."

The winners were Lisa Hodgkinson and Kim Barnes for their pan-fried pork tender loin and sultana pepper chutney followed by a strawberry pancake stack. Runners-up were Tom Coxon and Callum Paton with their dish of Lancashire Cheese samosas with apple chutney and pan friend chicken breasts served with a dish of black pudding wrapped in bacon. The teachers were third.

The winners received £60 worth of vouchers to use at Nutters Restaurant, a signed cook book by Andrew Nutter and a trophy.

Mrs Gallie said: "It was a fantastic experience for the pupils.

"For the curriculum they have to study industrial practice and we took it one step further giving them a chance to cook in industrial kitchens."