The cookery skills of students were put to the test as apples made a short journey from orchard to pie at a Norfolk stately home.

The aroma of freshly baked apple pie spread through the restaurant kitchens at the National Trust's Blickling Hall when pupils from nearby Aylsham High School took part in the annual Apple Dash competition.

The competition, sponsored by the National Trust, is for students studying for their GCSE in Hospitality and Catering.

Students in teams of four were asked to produce apple pies to a Blickling Hall recipe, using fruit from the hall's own orchards.

After a 'dash' to collect apples, they headed to the kitchens where the teams, under the watchful eye of Blickling Hall chefs and school staff, put their classroom cookery skills into practice.

Ninety minutes later, delicious apple pies emerged from the restaurant ovens, ready for judging.

The winners were the team calling themselves the Blickling Bramleys - Adam Gray, Harry Neal, Daisy Hughes and Elise Mabbutt - who were presented with the Golden Apple award and copies of the Great British Recipes cook book.

All the contestants received baskets of fruit from the Groveland Farm Shop in Roughton, plus a medal from the National Trust.