A Managing director at a pottery firm donned his chef's whites and cooked Christmas dinner for more than 230 workers. Paul Farmer, managing director at Burslem-based Wade Ceramics, served up roast beef, potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and gravy to hard-working employees after his mammoth cook-a-thon.

The food was served in four sittings between noon and 2pm yesterday.

Mr Farmer said: "We've had an incredibly busy year and this is something I wanted to do to reward all our employees at Christmas time.

"It was a challenge to feed everyone, all on my own, but for such a special time of the year, it was worth the effort."