Last updated 05:28, Friday, 30 May 2008

CELEBRITY chef Gordon Ramsey let budding young cooks from Wigton into his kitchen secrets by donating a recipe for their fundraising cookbook.

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Youngsters from Wigton Youth Station, Becky Faulder, 14, Shanise Routledge, 12, and Rachel Benn, 13, have worked hard to put together the cookbook packed with tasty treats.

The girls have gathered recipes from local people known for their culinary skills and have even scored a recipe for chocolate fondue from Gordon Ramsay.

Tracy Noble, youth work development manager at the Youth Station, said: “They just emailed him and he gave them his favourite recipe and permission to use it.”

The girls manned a stall to promote their book in Wigton’s Market Hall on Tuesday, tempting would-be customers with samples of home cooked food.

The idea for the book, called Big Book Little Cooks, came after youngsters at the youth scheme got stuck into a health and lifestyle project. Tracy said: “It started about 12 months ago and was looking at exercise and healthy food and it has evolved from there.

“They went to local businesses and got money from Innovia Films to pay for the manufacturing process. They also got money from the Prince’s Trust.

“All of the money raised will come back to the Youth Station for everybody’s benefit.

“It’s a lovely little book. It has snacks for lunch boxes such as cheesy feet. They are very proud and so are we.”

The little cooks were also treated to a visit to the kitchens at Carlisle College as part of their research. The college students cooked them a meal and showed them how a big kitchen worked.

Tracy added: “It will be good for them if they ever wanted to go into a career in catering.”

Youth workers Sam Massey and Sarah Radcliffe helped oversee the project.

Big Book Little Cooks can be bought from the Youth Station in Wigton High Street for £3.50.