AN award-winning scheme showing people how to cook up healthy meals is back.

Delicious smells of cheese tortilla toasties and courgette, potato and cheddar soup filled Bolton Market's lifestyle hall with shoppers invited to try the food.

The free nine-week cookery and wellbeing course is for any interested adults aged 16 and over and living in Bolton.

Anne Collier, aged 52, from Bradshaw, has signed up for the full course.

She said: "I have never liked courgette, but the soup is really nice. I will certainly be making this at home.

"This course is really helpful in showing you different recipes. I already don't use salt in food and know about healthy eating but this helps you cook something different, rather than the same things all the time.

"I would recommend people to sign up to the course."

The scheme — 'Healthy Cooking which does not Break the Bank — runs every Tuesday and Thursday.

People not only learn about different dishes, but how to substitute foods, such as mayonnaise for yoghurt — adding onions to add taste — and spices instead of salt, as well as how to make healthier versions of popular recipes.

The course places an emphasis on local produce, much of which can be bought from the market.

Leading the course is Joan Burrage, from Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

She said: "The courses have been running for four years.

"It is about cooking healthy meals, I do not use salt in my meals and how it can be substituted by herbs and spices because it is about removing, salt fats and sugars from the diet

"Healthy eating is so important because it can help prevent certain diseases."

Mrs Burrage said that people who attended the courses were helping to spread the word about health eating to friends and family.

Those interested in signing up for the next course should ring 01204 463175 — and shoppers can visit every Tuesday and Thursday to pick up tips and try healthy foods.