FOOTBALL legends Malcolm Macdonald, Eric Gates and Bernie Slaven will rekindle simmering rivalries next week when they compete against each other in a cooking challenge.

The former footballers, who played for North-East clubs, will be taking part in a Ready Steady Cook-style culinary challenge at Durham County Hall.

They will team up with Durham County Council's award-winning chefs to celebrate the authority's success in winning the Local Authority Catering Association's team of the year title.

The 200 members of the audience will be asked to vote on whether ex-Newcastle striker Macdonald or ex-Middlesbrough star Slaven should win the show, which is compered by former Sunderland favourite Gates.

After the cookery contest, they will take part in a football talk-in with the audience.

Brian Tennant, the council's director of Service Direct, which runs the catering services, said: "The main emphasis will be on entertainment, but I hope it will give the audience an insight into the standards of cooking and meal preparation of which we are capable.

"There is a lot more to council kitchens now than pie and chips or sponge pudding and custard."

Entry to the event, which takes place at Durham County Hall, at 2pm on October 22, is free, by ticket only. For details, call 0191-383 3792.

* Macdonald, Gates and Slaven will be broadcasting their Three Legends Century FM radio show live from the Gateshead MetroCentre on Friday, from 6pm to 8pm. The event takes place in the centre's Exhibition Square and admission is free.