As part of the ‘Live Below the Line’ worldwide initiative, Christian Aid has partnered with Leicester College to set a tough challenge to its learners – cooking a silver-service standard meal on just £1 worth of ingredients.

Anne Wood, programme area manager for hospitality and food, who put the Level 1 Catering learners to the test, said: “So many interesting dishes were submitted to me. It was really hard to whittle it down to just five of the best entries to be entered into the cook-off!”

Catherine Garsed and Nick Thorley, from Christian Aid’s East Midlands office, were on the judging panel.

Ms Garsed said: “With some clever garnishes, flavourings, presentation and textures they managed to transform very simple ingredients into a feast fit for kings.”

The winners of the event were Ben Dyson and Aaron Wiltshire. They beat off the competition with their dish of vegetable frittata with tomato coulis.