A NORTH-EAST Territorial Army chef almost found himself on the menu during military operations overseas.

Corporal Andrew Hart, from Darlington, said crowds watching his team taking part in a cooking contest had no idea what catering in the field could entail.

He said that at the competition at Sandown Park, Surrey, the Royal Logistics Corps would prepare food fit for a king.

But, during a recent trip to Kenya, he feared he was about to become a snack fit for the king of the jungle.

The 54-year-old catering management lecturer said it was the first time in 20 years as a part-time military chef that a lion has nosed open his tent flap.

Cpl Hart said: "I closed the flap again and told it to 'shoo'.

"That seemed to work, but it did not stop the half-inch long ants coming marching through our tent. Nor did it stop the 6ft long monitor lizard wandering in.

"There was a yell and my two friends burst out of the back of the tent while the reptile, with its lashing tail, huge teeth and bad temper, came crashing through the side."

Cpl Hart said the wildlife left them alone when torrential downpours started.

He was part of a team crowned champions of the combined services culinary challenge last week. They faced competition from chefs from every branch of the Armed Forces by preparing a three-course meal.

To join the Catering Support Regiment, call (0800) 587 6585.