Children from two Harold Hill schools got their teeth into a Ready Steady Cook style cookery challenge last week.

Workshops - held at Brookside Junior, in Dagnam Park Drive, and Hilldene Primary, in Grange Road – aimed to get children fired up over healthy eating.

Members of Havering Council’s catering service showed youngsters how to make healthy beef burgers, vegetable kebabs, quorn and vegetable chow mein.

Children were chosen to make up two teams cooking different dishes, led by a professional chef, in the style of the popular TV cookery show.

Parents were invited to attend and were able to speak to the catering teams to find out more about pupils’ school meals.

The demos are part of the council’s Harold Hill Ambitions Community Programme.

A representative from NHS Havering’s MEND programme, which aims to tackle childhood obesity, was also on hand to talk about the importance of children maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Cllr Paul Rochford, cabinet member for children and learning, said: “Teaching these skills in early life will help to ensure Havering children grow up leading healthy lifestyles.”