STUDENTS were tickling the tastebuds of a celebrity chef when he called into their school for a cooking masterclass.

James Tanner, who is a regular on Saturday Kitchen and appeared on Ready, Steady Cook, spent a whole day at the school delivering a talk as well as serving salt and chilli calamari.

His visit culminated in a Ready, Steady Cook-style challenge with David Dunn, headmaster of Yarm School, and Bill Sawyer, headmaster of Yarm Preparatory School competing against each other with their two pupil helpers.

The victorious Red Lobsters, led by Mr Sawyer, served up seabass with a mussel and horseradish sauce.

Chef James Tanner said: “It’s vital that children are encouraged from an early age to be curious about where the food they eat comes from and to try new foods.

“It’s been fantastic to come into Yarm School to talk to pupils of all ages about the benefits of eating both healthily and sustainably, particularly when it comes to the fish we eat.”

Mr Dunn added: “We were delighted to welcome James to the school which was a great experience. It was interesting to learn about his experiences during his illustrious career, and our pupils loved the various activities that took place on the day."