More than 50 people took part in a culinary master class held at Castlegate Quay Watersports Centre by 2007 Masterchef finalist Dave Hall.

The event was part of Stockton Teaching PCT and Tees Active Sporting Start programme. The programme enables youngsters to sample up to 18 different sports and physical activities over the school holiday period. The programme is part of the PCTS prevention strategy for childhood obesity and is linked to the governments Change4Life campaign.

Hall demonstrated that preparing and cooking a healthy, tasty and nutritious dish can take as little as 10 minutes. "Today's session has been all about demonstrating to the public that cooking is fun and good healthy food is tasty and is quick and easy to prepare," he said. "I am passionate that young people should know how to cook and be prepared to try new ingredients."

Paul Bambrough, Tees Actives young persons active health manager, said: "This is the first time we have including a cooking session in the Sporting Start programme and judging by its popularity and the fantastic feedback we have received from the audience I an sure we will be including similar sessions in our Easter programme."