SIXTH-form students are busy cooking to raise money for their school's hockey and rugby team.

The 14 teenagers from Barnard Castle School, County Durham, have been taking weekly cookery lessons at the Morritt Arms Hotel, Greta Bridge, near Barnard Castle, with head chef Simon Walsh.

The aim of the lessons is to prepare the students for living independently once they leave school.

However, on Saturday, they will cook for 150 guests at a fundraising dinner at the hotel to help send the school's hockey and rugby teams on a tour of South Africa.

The guest speaker will be former England rugby international Rob Andrew, a former Barnard Castle School student.

Mr Walsh said: "It has been really good fun.

"They are all looking forward to doing it for real on Saturday. My chefs will only be there to help them along a bit.

"They have all been talking about Gordon Ramsay on the TV, so I might be shouting a bit. I would not want them missing out anything."