A SOUTH Lakes Chef who made the finals in BBC's Great British Menu (GBM) this year recreated his Christmas Pudding dessert for some local NHS staff working on Christmas Day.

On the programme, Craig Sherrington from Virginia House in Ulverston crafted a Christmas Pudding, The Missed Celebration, to honour the NHS staff.

On December 25 Mr Sherrington hand delivered portions of the dessert - Christmas pudding ice cream, steamed brandy sponge, steeped fruits, nuts and peel, Anglaise, flambeed caramel and micro red vein sorrel- to his local hospital Furness General in Barrow and Furness.

Along with the pudding some Christmas crackers were also handed out to staff members. Each cracker contained an adapted version of the Chef's original GBM poem paying tribute to NHS heroes as well as special treats.

Mr Sherrington said: "All through the Great British Menu experience, the NHS brief was close to my heart as my wife Louise, her sister, and her mum have all worked for the NHS and have previously worked over Christmas."

He added: “The idea behind the original dessert was to thank them for all their hard work and the sacrifices they make like missing out on the usual festive celebrations. So we thought, what better way to do this than surprise a few of them on Christmas Day with some foodie treats and the chance to enjoy their own belated celebratory dinner at Virginia House.”

Virginia House Christmas crackers were also delivered to staff at all University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust in Kendal, Morecambe and Lancaster. Dinners for two at Virginia House were the top prizes as well as a range of complimentary drink and money-off vouchers.