Fish was the dish of the day as radio DJs got to grips with a large-scale task - taking on the might of the Gazette in a restaurant cook-off.

North Essex’s favourite newspaper is going head to head with SGR Colchester in a charity Hell’s Kitchen-style cook-off on Friday at Mersea Island Vineyard.

With tickets sold out, the heat was on for SGR breakfast presenters Natasha Sims and Wyatt Wendels, who headed for a last-minute culinary boot camp at Colchester’s Lemon Tree restaurant.

They were put straight to work by head chef Paul Wassan, who is aiming to outdo his boss Patrik Minder, supervisor of the Gazette team.

He taught them how to slice up a giant salmon for the fish course.

Profits from Friday’s contest will be donated to a charity of the winning team’s choice.