BUDDING Jamie Olivers and Delia Smiths had the chance to get baking and even devise their own cookbook.

Pupils with learning difficulties at Edith Borthwick School, Braintree, and Southview School, Witham, have been cooking up creations as part of a school and work experience project.

The pupils worked together on the first project in the newly-opened enterprise unit at Southview School, in Conrad Road, Witham.

The group, known as The Cookbook Crew, has been trying out and tasting recipes to create their own cookbook.

The book will become reality within the next few weeks with the help of the Digital Company, part of printing firm, the Finishing Company, based on Witham’s Freebournes industrial estate.

Zoe Webb, enterprise manager at the schools, said: “The enterprise unit is designed to give our students an experience of a real workplace environment. Interaction with local businesses is an essential part of this.

“The Digital Company has involved the students every step of the way and it has been a great success.”

Six pupils, working in teams of two, and with a little guidance, baked a chocolate brownie, syrup sponge and lemon pudding cakes.

Youngsters Liam Baker, Jack Elliot, Andrew Howard, Bobby Gilbert, Tristan Hyman and Charlotte Clarke were the budding chefs whose finished work was put to the vote – with the lemon cake picked out as the favourite.

Sausage and tomato pasta, shepherd’s pie and prawn risotto are among the savoury recipes which will also feature in the book.

The Finishing Company prints a range of products, from business cards to personalised calendars.

Its business manager Sian Williams said the company aimed to take the students’ work and add an “extra ‘wow’ factor” to to create a professional-looking cookbook.

The books will initially only be available to pupils at the schools, probably in late June, but may later be offered for general sale, with any profits going to fund more enterprise projects.