THEY can stand the heat, and they can't wait to get into the kitchen ... that's the GCSE catering students at Sedbergh's Settlebeck High School who have once again staged their version of television's Hell's Kitchen.

The event was organised for the second year running by food technology teacher Helen Waring who commandeered the help of husband Paul, a chef lecturer at Kendal College, and his colleague Simon Hansen, to steer the students through potential culinary pitfalls.

The clock started at ticking at nine in the morning and then the red and blue teams had just under four hours to prepare a three-course meal for invited guests who paid £10 for the privilege of sitting down to a school dinner with a difference.

On the blue team's menu was cream of cauliflower soup with fresh baked bread, chicken chasseur with fondant potatoes, and summer pudding with berry coulis.

While over in the red kitchen the students prepared tomato and basil soup, chicken with mushrooms, garlic and sherry sauce, and olive oil mash, followed by sticky toffee pudding and butterscotch sauce.

"We have used local suppliers such as Steadmans butchers in Sedbergh for the meat, and Powells for the fruit and veg," explained Helen, whose hubby raided to college's crockery department to help the students lay on a good show. Helen added: "It is meant to be a fun event but it also gives the students, some of whom want to go into catering, a chance to feel the pressure of a real kitchen situation."

For the record, the diners voted the red team the winner.