PUPILS had a taste of life in the Army when three military chefs cooked up a storm at their school.

The trio of chefs pitched up a full Army field kitchen tent outside Blakewater College in Blackburn today, to serve up some dishes eaten by soldiers everywhere from Iraq to Northern Ireland.

Hundreds of students at the Shadsworth Road school got the chance to see how the Army's chefs create three tasty and nutritious meals a day for troops.

Robert Alcock, Blakewater's own chef, arranged the visit, which is part of the school's participation in the Army-sponsored Lancashire Young Chef competition.

The Army trains its own chefs to high standards, so that they can produce anything from fry-ups to five course meals, often in difficult conditions.

Rob, who joined the school 20 months ago, said: "We have links with the Army through the competition, so I got in touch with the catering corps to see if they would come and do a demonstration for the pupils."

Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Nik Smith, the food services warrant officer (FSWO) for the Army in the North West, Lance Corporal Jay Barton and WO2 Mick Watson spent the morning cooking dishes using ingredients found in 10-man ORPs - Operational Ration Packs with enough food to feed 10 men.

Pupils from various year groups got a chance to try chicken fajitas and hot chocolate amongst other tasty treats.

Rob said: "The feedback has been really positive.

"As part of my job here I'm always looking for ways to make learning about food and healthy eating interesting."

Sue Williams, head of food technology, said: "It's been fabulous, the pupils have seen how the chefs cook tasty and nutritious meals three times for 40 soldiers from one tent!

"It's given them a chance to see food prepared in a completely different way to what they normally see, such as using dehydrated sachets of ingredients.

"It also shows how different food groups are needed, for instance soldiers need lots of energy-rich foods, but importantly there's an emphasis on healthy eating."

"It's also good for them to see soldiers somewhere other than TV, so they have an idea of what they do."

WO2 Mick Watson, an Army chef of 18 years, said: "Good nutritious food is vital to a healthy and happy soldier.

"We've been really impressed with how interested the kids are in what we do.

"We haven't brought all our equipment, but they can see how we use ration packs.

"It's very important to get kids involved in knowing about healthy food.

"I was a baker and confectioner in the family business before I joined the Army, but lots of people didn't know about how food is produced then.

"Government guidelines means things are getting better, but we need to keep on working on giving people a different outlook on food."

Rob said: "This has been a great success, but the kids have responded well to a lot of the initiatives we do.

"I know it's been said that the Government's healthy eating drive is not working, but that's definitely not the case here."

Blakewater pupils in Key Stage Three and Four are competing against schools from across East Lancashire in the annual Young Chef competition.

Organised by Lancashire Education Business Partnership in conjunction with 11 sponsors and five colleges, it aims to address the shortage of young people entering the catering industry or becoming food technology teachers.

The finals will take place in March or April, and prizes include a trip to HMS Raleigh in Cornwall and a chance to cook with Royal Navy chefs.