Mary Berry – food writer and star of countless TV programmes, including The Great British Bake Off – visited Salcombe Primary School on Monday.

She was at the school in order to give a cookery demonstration in their new kitchen.

The celebrity chef has a family connection with the South Hams as her children have a house 'just down the road'.

Mary showed the children how to make butterfly buns and pitta bread pizzas, which they did with great success.

She said: 'Learning to cook at school starts children off in the right direction by encouraging them to cook and bake.

'Looking at the pictures on the wall, I can see that as soon as they got the kitchen they started cooking and they've made some wonderful things like fish pie and pizzas.

'When young people leave home and live on their own it's important that they don't just eat junk food, they need proper nutritious meals. If children get used to this early then they will carry on when they go off on their own.'

Jo Williams, of the parents, teachers and friends association organised the visit, as well as being the driving force behind the school getting the kitchen.

She said: 'It's important the children learn about healthy eating.

'Having the kitchen at school means that they can learn to cook basic foods and it allows more to be done in the curriculum – it can be used for maths and science, not just cooking.

'This kitchen has made a dream possible.

I want to thank Roger Blaber, of Heron Kitchens, who kindly donated it as well as Chris Kemp, Nigel Clap and Nick Tee and his team from T Electrics for fitting it.

'Also, thanks to The Winking Prawn who donated and embroidered the aprons the children are wearing, and the PTFA.'

At an assembly following the demonstration, Roger Blaber was presented with a plate that the children had made – with each of their thumb prints pressed into it – as well as a bunch of flowers for his wife.

Roger explained how he had come to help the school.

'They contacted us to see if we could help, and we thought it was such a fantastic project we were pleased to help in any way.

'We did a small plan then said we would supply the units.'

At the assembly Mary said: 'It's been very special for me to come here. There are not many schools that have been generously donated a kitchen.

'If you can learn a bit of nutritious cooking at school, then you can go back and carry on cooking at home.'

Salcombe Primary's head teacher Heather Slater said: 'Our topic for next term is exploring the coastline, so we'll be using the kitchen to make lots of fish dishes.'