Trainee chefs from Barking & Dagenham College cooked for 450 people, including their mayor  and mayor-elect, during a ‘mayor-making’ weekend.

The 15 students served a hot and cold buffet for 150 guests at a ceremonial council meeting, where current Barking and Dagenham Mayor Anthony Ramsay, handed over to Councillor Hardial Singh Rai.

They also prepared a buffet for 350 people attending a parade through the town square to St Margaret’s Church where a special blessing for the new Mayor was held.

Barking & Dagenham food studies curriculum manager Adrian Crabb said: “The students do an incredible job and really enjoy being part of such prestigious events.

“Catering for so many guests can be tough but the whole team has been working really hard.”

Featured image caption: Kyle Snow, 19, from Barking, who is studying for a Diploma in Professional Cookery, Level two