FOUR churchgoers have been invited to meet celebrity chef Jamie Oliver in recognition of their voluntary work helping to feed hungry schoolchildren.

Edie Hollifield, Enid Grey, Beryl O’Hara and Linda Gregory travelled to the CEO Cook-off event in London, organised by The Jamie Oliver Food Foundation and UKHarvest, which dished up banquets to hundreds of everyday heroes from schools and hospitals.

The aim of the charity event was to raise money to tackle food waste and promote better food education.

The quartet, who all attend St Aidan’s Church, in Billingham, have cooked hundreds of meals for children in the area during the school holidays who would normally rely on a free school meal during term time.

Their names were put forward by Val Barron, a project co-ordinator with Churches Together Durham – a joint venture between the Diocese of Durham and the Church Urban Fund – who aimed to highlight some of the work being done to combat poverty in the region.

The women help operate two church holiday clubs which provide a range of activities for children and families and provide a nutritious meal for everyone attending.

Enid Grey, 73, said that during their first summer they cooked 500 meals and the response had been fantastic.

Edie Hollifield, 69, added: “It's absolutely marvellous to be recognised by Jamie. We are on cloud nine really as we just get on with things, never asking for anything in return.”

The Reverend Bill Braviner, Team Vicar in Billingham, said the four women had displayed commitment and enthusiasm and their invite to the cook-off event was well deserved.

He said: “Not only have they welcomed, engaged with, and fed hundreds of children and their parents/carers, the have also inspired many other groups around our Diocese to do the same.”