Royal Navy and US Navy chefs and stewards are putting the final touches to their culinary creations as they prepare to take on the Army and the Royal Air Force.

The Naval Service Culinary Arts Team in partnership with the US Navy, are practising at HMS Raleigh ahead of the annual Armed Forces culinary competition, using the facilities at the Defence Maritime Logistics School.

The event is known as Exercise Joint Caterer and takes place next week (October 11-13) at the Defence Capability Centre, Shrivenham.

Royal Navy and US Navy chefs have developed a close relationship in recent times and this will be the second year that US Navy personnel have been involved in the competition.

The Blue Ribbon event is the Parade de Chef which will see a team of five chefs and two assistants serve up a three-course meal for 84 from scratch in just six hours.

In total around 500 Service chefs, stewards and caterers will compete in the event across two live theatres, a field catering area, a parade de chefs, the Defence Influence Challenge and a variety of display classes.