BUDDING chefs cooked up a storm at the Wellbeing Farm at its first blind and partially-sighted cookery class.

Set up by the Bolton Society for Blind People, the class allowed those of all abilities to attend to learn basic cookery and baking skills at the Edgworth farm.

Head chef Robert Nelson and patisserie chef Ellie Godding had to undergo special training and visual awareness courses to carry out the class, which saw a number of students, including Craig Slater, aged 27, and Hannah Day, aged 25, make delicious muffins.

Mr Slater, from Bromley Cross, said: “It has been really nice to come to a regular kitchen for the class and learn new skills.

“I have cooked before but this will be of real help to me before I go to study music technology and learn independent living at Royal Northern College for the Blind in Hereford.”

Miss Day, from Westhoughton, added: “I have never really done anything like this before because I have not had the support to do it like we have had today. I think this should continue as it’s important that blind and partially sighted people can get involved with courses like this.”

The classes are the latest in a long line of successful events at the farm — which has won several awards since opening in April 2013.

Only six months after opening its doors, the farm won a Gold Green Tourism award in the Green Tourism Business Scheme, which is the largest environmental accreditation body operating within tourism in Europe.

The farm then won Best Use of Local Produce at the 2013 British Cooker School awards, and in April it won a “farming Oscar” in the start-up category of the Countryside Alliance’s North West Awards.