SCHOOL children in North Cerney said a big thank you to one Cirencester business by throwing a huge three-course lunch with a special theme.

North Cerney C of E Primary School pupils were overjoyed when local kitchen company Howdens Joinery, based in Love Lane industrial estate, donated a sparkling new kitchen to their ongoing restoration project.

To say thanks, pupils and staff invited the company to a three-course Peruvian-themed lunch, organised and cooked by the children with the help of local business The Kitchen Club.

The North Cerney School Big Project has been running since 2013, and members have raised thousands of pounds to go towards a new school hall, a kitchen and a toilet block.

“The lunch was so lovely,” said school governor and project committee member Jenny Forde. “To see all the kids getting involved with food, all daring each other to eat a piece of onion.”

Each class was given one course of the meal to organise, and the children were also on hand to meet and greet visitors when they arrived on the day.

“Anyone who was involved with the project came, and we all sat down to eat together,” added Jenny. “It was a really nice way to say thank you to Howdens.”

The children chose the meal to be Peruvian-themed because one of their teachers, Sheena Blackmore, is travelling the world and is currently in Peru.

Pupils served up homemade spinach and tomatillo guacamole, homemade nachos and chilli con carne.

Now that the kitchen is complete, staff, pupils and villagers are looking forward to the completion of the new school hall, due to be finished in January.

Jenny added: “With obesity and unhealthy food in the news, it’s nice to get the children into food at such a young age.”