Sarah Allen has become the silver (dinner) lady of Cambridgeshire s schools. Mrs Allen had no previous experience of catering when she became a dinner lady at The Vince School in Cambourne. But armed with Jamie Oliver cookbooks she has built a team around

Sarah Allen has become the silver (dinner) lady of Cambridgeshire's schools.

Mrs Allen had no previous experience of catering when she became a dinner lady at The Vince School in Cambourne.

But armed with Jamie Oliver cookbooks she has built a team around her which serves up nutritious meals using ingredients grown at the school.

The team came to the attention of BBC Radio 4's Food Programme for cooking their home-grown food and for sharing recipes with parents.

And now the school has been presented with the Food for Life, Silver Award by the Soil Association for developing healthy eating, growing and sourcing sustainable food.

Ian Nutt, of the Soil Association, said: "The Vine is the only school in Cambridgeshire to receive the prestigious Food for Life Silver Award.

"They are an ambassador to other schools in the region and continue to pass on their expert knowledge of healthy, local school food to other schools and to the community."

Headteacher Debbie Higham told The Hunts Post: "We are all delighted that our hard work has been recognised by Food for Life, and it is especially exciting to be the first school in Cambridgeshire to achieve the Silver Award."

She added: "Mrs Allen and the Vine Cafe team make fantastic school lunches, Jack Waterfall and Jacqui Hutchinson make sure that the school garden is planted, tended and harvested, the teachers make sure that growing, cooking and eating are part of the curriculum and the pupils bring their energy, enthusiasm and healthy appetites."

Sarah finished third in UK's Best Dinner Lady Awards, judged by chef Raymond Blanc, Blur bassist and cheesemaker, Alex James and previous best dinner lady, Jeanette Orrey.