CAMPUS cops from schools across Ayrshire teamed up with Cumnock pupils for expert healthy cooking lessons at Dumfries House.

The officers joined the young budding chefs to whip up some nutritious meals, and encourage health eating as well as build up good relationships between youngsters and the police.

Twelve secondary school pupils, including some from Cumnock Academy, joined their local campus cops for a cooking workshop at The Belling Hospitality Training Centre at Dumfries House.

During the workshop, staff from The Prince’s Foundation taught them how to cook easy healthy alternatives to popular takeaway dishes including a chicken curry, a pork and ginger stir-fry and a tomato pasta bake.

The pupils left with a complimentary bag of ingredients – kindly donated by The Co-op in Galston and J. Nisbet’s of Sorn – so they can practise recreating the ‘fakeaway’ dishes at home.

Sergeant Craig Wallace, of Irvine Valley Police Station, said: “The day was a huge success and everyone really enjoyed spending time in the training kitchen. The idea was for the pupils and the campus cops to spend time together in a relaxed environment learning how to cook healthy and nutritional meals on a budget.”

Adam McKissock, a chef at Dumfries House who delivered the workshop, said: “I was really impressed by the enthusiasm shown by the pupils.”