IT was an hour full of vol-au-vants, minced beef ragu, and one or two people donning white hats.

Nightshelter Winchester Churches, a homeless charity, celebrated the official launch of its new Good Scoff cook book which has been designed for its users.

The book was written by food, nutrition and wellbeing co-ordinator, Ali McKay to help homeless people living on a tight budget once they’d left the shelter in Jewry Street.

It includes a range of practical and cheap options, working at a budget of £20 per week, for anyone with limited cooking experience.

Nightshelter manager, Michèle Price, said: “It was great to see so many people. We had some lovely food tasting menus, with carrot and kidney bean burgers, soups made from local squash etc, all very nutritional, full of good sources, and cheap to produce. The guys in the kitchen had a great time, happy chefs make for happy eaters I suppose.

“We have had people come in who have never cooked a baked potato in their lives and are not sure about how to scramble eggs. Then, when they come into the Nightshelter, we give them a flyer on how to eat healthier on a budget. We have done so, so that when people move on from the Nightshelter, they know how to do it.”

Nightshelter residents are given a farewell living pack to help them support themselves.

It is hoped, with the introduction of the new book and the helpful cooking classes, users of the shelter will now be able to eat more nutritionally while on a limited living allowance.