CHILDREN in Winchester are picking up skills for life after a local woman set up a cooking classes business.

Cookie Kids, the brainchild of Harestock entrepreneur Debbie Plunton, started at the beginning of this year, and is focused on providing children aged six to 11 with essential cooking skills and information on how to eat healthily.

The after-school and holiday workshops are run in Ms Plunton’s brand-new kitchen, on Woodgreen Road, and she recently held one of her first sessions during half-term.

She said: “It’s lovely to see it all come together, and especially when you see the children go off and enjoy it. They love getting their hands sticky and messy but still getting the finished product at the end.”

Ms Plunton received approximately £650 from Winchester City Council at the start of the year to help buy the equipment needed. She said: “It was great to use all of my new equipment. The grant from Winchester City Council really helped get all of the last bits together, and the children got to use the colourful scales and utensils.

“As they were leaving I heard one of the little girls shout ‘I loved it’ so that was lovely.”

Classes cost £12.50 per week for six weeks, or £15 on the day, with a variety of themed workshops planned over the coming months.

For more information go to cookie-kids.co.uk.