A LOWER DARWEN chef has taken his career to new heights - cooking at 40,000ft for airline passengers.

Ian Sankey, pictured above, spent 18 years as an executive chef in London before being asked by BMI to test his culinary skills in the air.

He cooks for passengers travelling in the airline's first class service on the new transatlantic route from Manchester to Washington DC.

Despite having a little less space in the kitchen than he is used to, Ian, 38, said he has got used to preparing meals, for up to 24 people, at 40,000ft.

"I wouldn't say it was easy, you have to be very organised, but I haven't had any problems so far," he said.

"I chose the job because I was looking for a totally fresh challenge.

"Being an in-flight chef sounded different new and different, and it is just that!" he added.

Ian, who lives in St Kitt's Road with his wife Kate, a 30-year-old air stewardess for British Airways, said the feedback he has had about his high-flying food since he started last month, has been really good.

"We give people comment cards to fill in and around nine out of ten passengers said they thought the food was better than a five star restaurant," he said.

Ian, who flies to Washington at least once a week, said he has cooked for lots of American senators on the flight.

But his most famous passenger was former England footballer Paul Gascoigne.

"I can't remember what Gazza had to eat, but he was a really nice guy," Ian said. "He flew to Washington when there was talk about him playing for an American team."