HOMELESS youngsters got a taste of the 'Delias' when an award-winning chef came to cook at a shelter for the homeless.

Langho-based restaurant Northcote Manor sent along 21-year-old chef Lisa Allen, finalist in the UK Chef of the Year Award 2002, to present certificates to the students.

She gave a cookery demonstration at The Foyer, a purpose-built complex of flats for homeless people in Blackburn. She was teaching how to cook good, healthy food without breaking the bank.

The Foyer hopes to hold further cookery classes in the new year and to use the roof-top garden to grow fresh herbs for use in the kitchen.

Mahfooz Hussain, executive member for education and lifelong learning, said: "This has been a great opportunity to give these young people the skills to cook tasty, cheap meals from raw ingredients. They have made tremendous progress and now have the basic skills in cooking which they can use every day.

"Blackburn with Darwen council strives to promote learning to young people."