TWO young boxing champions stepped out of the ring and into the kitchen for an early taste of the region's biggest food festival next weekend.

Cousins Lewis and Steffan Robinson, both 17 and from Spennymoor, County Durham, swapped their boxing gloves for oven gloves to learn the ropes at the Chang Thai restaurant in Bishop Auckland Market Place.

The talented duo both box at the Bishop Auckland club in Murphy Crescent and rank among the North-East's brightest new talents.

Lewis is a North-East amateur champion, while Steffan is both a regional and national amateur champion, winning the Junior Amateur Boxing Association title at the end of last year.

Chris Robson, their trainer and head coach, will be looking for healthy diet tips when next weekend's festival is held at Auckland Castle.

He said: "Healthy eating plays a crucial role in any boxer's overall game plan - as with nutrition, you get out what you put in.

"A quality performance in the ring can be the result of hard work, self control and a sensible diet.

"Vitamins and minerals are provided by good quality food and the balance of protein and carbohydrates can keep the boxer's energy levels right up."

Sue Snowdon of Bishop Auckland Town Centre Forum, said: "The Food Festival aims to educate, inform and broaden people's horizons about food and drink.

"Food fuels the mind, body and soul and eating the right kind of ingredients can make for a healthier lifestyle. "We are encouraging people to discover a whole host of different varieties of food, as it's also fine to enjoy a little bit of what you fancy from time to time."

Around 30,000 people attended the festival last year. It is open from 10am to 4pm and a park and ride scheme operates from Bishop Auckland College.

Www.bishopaucklandfoodfestival.co.uk.