PROFESSIONAL cookery students from Wiltshire College & University Centre teamed up with British Army soldiers to cook up a culinary treat.

Level 1 and 2 students swapped the comfort of their Trowbridge campus kitchens for the outdoors to work with the Royal Logistic Corps army chefs.

They were split into three groups and given a mystery box to create two dishes from scratch for up to 15 people.

Level 1 student Gemma Patrick, 16, said: “I really enjoyed working together in a team with Level 2 students. It was definitely a bit terrifying at the start.

"We were in a completely different environment and had to think on our feet to decided what dishes we were going to create."

Jack Prout, 18, who studies the Level 2 course and wants to be a restaurant chef, said: “I was given the role of Team Leader and this was quite challenging to start with; making sure everyone had a job to do and making decisions, but once I got into it I really enjoyed the opportunity.

“The soldiers we worked with were really knowledgeable and the whole experience was really fun.”

Sgt Sean McMenemy, based at RLC in Winchester, said: “I’ve been really impressed at the students, who produced some great food.

“This is the first time they’ve ever seen some of this equipment, but they showed their professionalism by keeping their kitchen areas clean, and tidy and working together to achieve their brief.”

Some of the dishes created included chicken in an orange sauce, stir fry, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken broth shortbread – all highly nutritious, tasty and filling, a necessity for feeding army personnel.