FATHERS and sons joined forces for the evening at Abbey College in Ramsey to take on a cooking challenge as part of a family learning week. The evening had an Italian theme as the boys and their dads set about cooking a tasty meal of sundried tomato gnocc

FATHERS and sons joined forces for the evening at Abbey College in Ramsey to take on a cooking challenge as part of a family learning week.

The evening had an Italian theme as the boys and their dads set about cooking a tasty meal of sundried tomato gnocchi with black olive and chorizo sauce.

Polly Redmond, advanced skills teacher in design and technology at Abbey College, organised the evening and lent a helping hand when it was required.

"There was a wonderful communal atmosphere," she said. "Many of the lads and dads admitted that they didn't do much cooking at home and most of them had never cooked together before."

Michael and David Ruddlesden from Somersham, were the exception. Michael, 13, said: "Dad and I make a great team at cooking. We regularly cook together when the girls and mum go out to shows and so on.

"Dad and I prefer to stay at home and cook together and have an exciting meal ready for them when they return."

Oliver Bailey, 11, whose father Mark admitted that his culinary expertise ran to cooking baked beans on toast, said: "We came along because it sounded like fun and it has been really enjoyable.

"I don't think I'm quite ready to enter Master Chef yet, though."

The event, which was organised as part of Ramsey

Family Learning Week, was arranged and funded by the college as part of its work to develop community learning.