A POPULAR summer school in Prestwich has certainly found the right ingredients for success.

St Monica's Summer School for Gifted and Talented Pupils took in a visit to the new premises of Slattery Pattisier and Chocolatier in Bury New Road, Whitefield, where they were shown how to make a variety of tasty French chocolates, before conjuring up their own creations.

And in a separate event, the school hosted a cookery demonstration and competition when the children made their own quiches. About 30 youngsters, pupils from St Monica's feeder primaries, attended each event.

Teacher Melissa Lewis, who is running the summer school along with St Monica's colleague Fin Barrago, said: "One of our themes is French and at Slattery's the children were taught how to make things like truffles and profiteroles."

They put their learning into practice and left the shop with a host of mouth-watering goodies.

Melissa's sister Miss Shelley Lewis-Lavender, a teacher at another school, hosted the cookery session at St Monica's. The youngsters were taught how to make quiche before embarking on their own culinary exploits. There was also a prize awarded to the best cook.

The summer school is proving very popular with the children. Other events on the programme involve a trip to the home of Bolton FC and an outing to Manchester University.