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A master butcher gave a group of student chefs some advice about preparing meat and using it on their menus.

Andrew Sharp, who has demonstrated butchery around the world, was at Furness College last week to work with professional cookery apprentices.

Farmer Sharp, of Barrow, who has starred on Rick Stein’s Food Heroes and the BBC’s Turn Back Time – The High Street, used a side of Herdwick mutton in his demonstration to students. They also minced local pork and made burgers. Farmer Sharp had advice on spices to add flavour to the burgers.

Myra Billinghurst, lead assessor in catering for Furness Training, Furness College's business development arm, said: “The students really enjoyed the workshop. I think they were surprised that Andrew was using mutton, but they pan fried some mutton and it was gorgeous and tender.”

Mrs Billinghurst said the apprentices, who work in local businesses across the area, were given lots of ideas, and many had more questions for the butcher at the end of the workshop. She said the session followed on well from a trip to Low Sizergh Farm and a visit to Cartmel cheeses.

The apprentices spend one day a week in college completing their qualifications. Farmer Sharp also led a commercial butchery class in the evening at Furness College, which was attended by local chefs and farmers.