BUDDING chefs at a Little Hulton school have become outside caterers - and are getting positive feedback from satisfied diners.

Forty elderly customers applauded the 13 teenagers who prepared, cooked, and served a three-course meal.

Harrop Fold School's GCSE catering students put their culinary skills to use during a community lunch organised by Walkden Methodist Church.

"It was the best school dinner I've ever known," said one delighted pensioner.

The church usually stages monthly lunches for the local community at its Memorial Road hall, with volunteers from the congregation doing the cooking.

But church pastoral worker Pat Culpan brought in youngsters from the Hilton Lane school to help bridge the generation gap between pupils and local residents.

"It was a wonderful inter-generational exercise enjoyed by both the elderly community and the young people," said Pat.

"The students did a magnificent job."

Nine girls and four boys prepared a choice of two soups, main course of beef cobbler with creamed potatoes, glazed carrots and buttered cabbage, followed by a choice of syrup sponge with custard, or chocolate sponge and chocolate sauce.

Catering teacher John Preston said: "All the ingredients were fresh, with nothing out of a packet. The students used their butchery skills to prepare meat straight from the carcass.

"They prepared, cooked, served, waited on, and then did all the washing up afterwards. It was healthy eating for the diners, and valuable experience for the Year 10 caterers.

"It was also great to see how the different generations interacted.

"Our catering group is developing quite a good reputation.

"We are launching a project at a sheltered housing association where our youth will teach some of the elderly to cook easy and healthy meals."

The meal at Walkden Methodist Church's community hall was sponsored by Little Hulton's One Stop Shop and customers enjoyed a heavily-subsidised meal for just £1.

They may soon be offered second helpings because the school is in negotiation with the church for another similar event.