A visit to Minster Primary School today saw TV foodie Gregg Wallace’s tastebuds well and truly tickled.

The MasterChef presenter dropped in to the Thanet school at dinnertime to see the transformed kitchen as part of National School Meals Week.

Staff in the new kitchen cater for up to 260 pupils every day, baking their own bread and creating a range of healthy food.

Work was carried out during the summer holidays to transform the school’s food service from a small servery with outside catering into a modern kitchen.

And proud Year 1 pupils showed Gregg their mini Great Minister Bake Off kitchen in one of the classrooms, along with the raised beds in the garden where members of the school’s gardening club grow their vegetables.

The produce is sold to parents or used in the school’s cookery club.

Pupils were keen to tell Gregg that the thing they enjoyed most about digging in was the chance to get their hands muddy.

He told them: “I want to come back when you have some vegetables I can taste.”

He then toured the new kitchen and watched as staff served up roast turkey and potato and courgette bake to hungry pupils.

He then sat down to tuck into a roast dinner with the youngsters.

Before he ate he told Thanet Extra: “As a dad it’s been really nice to visit a school and see lots of happy kids.

“What really amazed me as a passionate cook is that there’s no fat or salt in there and a minimum of oil and they are baking their own bread every day.

“Most restaurant kitchens don’t do that.

“And it’s absolutely delicious - I’ve eaten half a loaf! It’s only sweetened with dried fruit and there’s a small hint of cinnamon as well.

“I want to promote the quality of food that’s now available in schools for children.

“There is a perception that school dinners aren’t very good but there are some highly-trained individuals in this kitchen who can not only cook well but are fully aware of all the nutrition and health issues.

“If you want your children to eat well and healthily send them back to their school dinners.”

And Gregg was making sure he saved enough space for pudding.

He said: “I’ve got my eye on an extra bit of crumble. Any pud lover worth their salt can see that there’s a very decent crumble there, and some very well-made custard.”

Head teacher Wendy Stone said: “He’s been very enthusiastic with the children and has related to them very well.

“It’s great for the children seeing someone from the TV who is interested in food and cooking helps raise their interest in it.”