Two trainee chefs at Great Yarmouth College built a kitchen in the middle of a field and rustled up a full meal for 20 hungry soldiers from rations and a few extras.

Two trainee chefs at Great Yarmouth College built a kitchen in the middle of a field and rustled up a full meal for 20 hungry soldiers from rations and a few extras.

Alice Stephenson and John Hubbard with lecturer David Patterson had a taste of life as an army chef on a trip to Colchester barracks.

As well as creating a kitchen from equipment in two bags in the middle of a field they had to conjure a tasty menu from rations including powdered egg and go on a five-mile run with the soldiers.

Mr Patterson said the students rose to the challenge and enjoyed a brilliant experience.

“Building the kitchen before we started was a challenge. It literally came in two bags but we did it and fired it up and then had to get to work on the menu.

“We had a �5 spend on top of the rations and the sergeant major went through it all with a fine tooth comb to check it was �5.”

From the meagre supplies, the trio managed to create beef and ham pie, stuffed peppers with savoury rice, pureed potatoes with ham and peppers, a selection of vegetables with chopped egg, two desserts - a trifle and a steamed pineapple upside down cake - and bread from yeast they discovered in the bag.

“We are hoping to be able to do it again with other students again later this year,” Mr Patterson said.