PERINS School in Alresford cooked up a warm welcome for BBC?television MasterChef winner Jane Devonshire, who was on hand to open officially the new Perins Cafe.

Mrs Devonshire, a mum of four from Medstead, is the 12th amateur cook to lift the coveted trophy, referring to it as “the most amazing thing I’ve ever done!”.

It was an inspirational choice of celebrity for the students, staff and governors who attended the cafe opening last Tuesday, along with those companies and individuals who have contributed to the project.

Perins headteacher Steve Jones said: “It was wonderful to welcome Jane to Perins for such an exciting day for the school. We would like to extend our thanks to Jane for giving up her precious time to attend the opening and then give cookery workshops to the students who thoroughly enjoyed this unforgettable experience.”

The cafe was completed in January.

Mr Jones continued: “The number of students at Perins is increasing year on year and space is at a premium. The cafe allows us to provide better catering facilities and space for the students, helping to raise school standards.”

The extension was designed and built in partnership with construction company Bentley Projects. Perins has worked closely with Bentley for a number of years after the school was successful with two previous funding bids to build a new maths block and to refurbish the English block, both of which were completed last year.