AIRMEN and women from North Yorkshire showed some down-to-earth skills when they triumphed at a culinary competition.

A team of nine chefs and stewards from RAF Leeming travelled to Worthy Down near Winchester for the RAF Skills Day culinary competition.

And not one of them returned empty-handed when they won a clutch of gold, silver and bronze medals.

Team captain Flight Sergeant Guy Collinge said: “It is quite hard work, there are long days and there’s a lot of preparation in the months leading up to the competition. The support from everyone on the station was greatly appreciated.”

He added: “We were clearly more prepared than the England football squad at the World Cup.”

RAF Leeming station commander Group Captain Steve Reeves presented the team with their individual awards at a ceremony held on the base.

Impressed by the team’s achievements he told them: “That’s quite a haul of medals which reflects a fantastic sense of quality and pride. “

Among the winners was Senior Aircraftman Chef Miles Ludlow, 24, with his wild mushroom tagliatelle.

“I didn’t expect to win the gold because it was such a simple dish. I found it unbelievable that we had so many winners from our team,” he said.