Pat Wilder and Diane Page, who run Hailsham firm Veg Out, received diplomas from the UK Vegetarian Society's Cordon Vert School of Cookery in 2005.

Now they've been asked to cook for delegates at the society's AGM in Altrincham, Cheshire, next month.

Veg Out is an exclusively vegetarian and vegan company which caters for weddings, parties and other events.

Pat and Diane, both themselves vegetarian, started the firm as a reaction to vegetarian food at functions which they felt lacked creativity.

They put together an imaginative menu based on very strict criteria and requirements received from the Vegetarian Society.

Some of the dishes they will be preparing include marinated tofu kebabs with satay sauce, Mediterranean cassoulet, hazelnut and cranberry pie and Caribbean pineapple with coconut ice cream.

Diane said, "It is a fantastic honour to be asked to cook for the Vegetarian Society's delegates."

Pat added, "It is a great opportunity to be able to prepare a gourmet menu for our mentors when only a few years previous we were students."

For more information on the company visit www.veg-out-sussex.com or phone 449341 or 871619.