SCHOOL pupils were encouraged to get creative when they were joined in the kitchen by one of south Cumbria's top chefs.

Youngsters at Dalton St Mary's Primary School went head to head as they battled for the opportunity to go down in cookie folklore.

They were invited to design a biscuit, with the winner getting the honour of their creation being served at Oscar’s Bar and Restaurant in Barrow on National Biscuit Day.

For head chef at Oscar’s, Ashley Wood, the competition was an opportunity to introduce children to the world of hospitality.

“We are always looking for ways to connect with the local community, and I was really looking forward to getting into the school kitchen with pupils at St Mary’s to help them with their designs," he said.

“I made sure they had plenty of options when it came to decorations and have to say there were some magnificent designs.

“I think it’s really important that children learn about the options open to them in the world of work, and the sooner we expose them to that, and inspire them to dream about the future, the better.”

Oscar’s is the popular bar and restaurant at the Abbey House Hotel and welcomes guests 365 days a year.

Ashley arrived at the school with cookie dough and a box of decorations, from which the pupils created their masterpieces ahead of them being cooked for the all-important taste test.

The finished delicacies came under the expert scrutiny of judge Cameron Barlow, wedding and events manager at Abbey House.

With the standard high, competition was intense, giving Cameron a tough job in selecting only one, worthy winner - a masterpiece created by Eva Udegbe containing marshmallows, chocolate buttons and a strawberry, with a final, careful dusting of icing sugar.

Linda Woodburn, headteacher at Dalton St Mary’s, described the activity as ‘super’, adding the work had been completed as part of Year Two’s design and technology curriculum.

“The children loved it. They worked hard on their designs beforehand, also working out the nutritional value of the biscuits depending on what they had chosen to use in their decoration.

“They also got the chance to be creative and to put their design skills to the test.”

On the day, the pupils assembled their cookies in the school’s on-site children’s kitchen, with chef Ashley on hand to help and advise.

Mrs Woodburn added: “The children were very proud of their finished designs which looked wonderful.”

The winning biscuit was recreated by the kitchen team at the Abbey House Hotel and Gardens and served with every cup of tea or coffee on National Biscuit Day (May 29), which sees the nation’s favourite treat celebrated every year.