CATERING students on a variety of courses have been treated to a masterclass in baking cakes.

Darlington College held its first ever workshop in the art of producing novelty cakes.

Youngsters on various courses, from the Skills+ programme to level three catering, learned a host of techniques in icing and decorating cakes.

A practical session saw them putting some imaginative finishing touches to fairytale castle-style cakes.

The masterclass was one of a series being staged at the College as part of the Learning and Skills Council-backed World Skills initiative. Other classes have already been held in coffee and chocolate.

Chantelle Harrison, 16, of Darlington, said: "I'm training to be a pastry chef and I'd always wanted to go on a cake decorating course so this masterclass was ideal for me."

Patisserie tutor Donna Joyce said: "The course was a great success and the students created some outstanding designs using all of the tips they had been given."