PROVIDING the breakfasts, lunches and teas for more than 500 people a day at the Royal Cornwall Show meant a very busy time for a catering team from Devon.

The team, from the University of Exeter domestic services, are used to catering for big rural shows, having used their skills at the recent Devon County Show, the Bath & West and the next show on their itinerary is the Honiton Show.

The outside catering specialists provide a service for the Dartmouth steam railway and Exeter races at Haldon Hill and at the Royal Cornwall Show, and the staff said they were looking forward to working at Exeter City football club when pop star Michael Jackson pays a visit to the St James Park venue.

Three employees who obviously enjoy their work are deputy catering manager Damien Nicholson, assistant catering manager Katja Munoz Cano and Devon chef Danek Pilkiewicz - who has worked for the company 26 years.

Damien, aged 25 and from Bournemouth, told Catering South West: "The training we receive is of a high standard and the company has received an Investors In People award. I did a National Licensees certificate and after taking my exams you feel even more confident in your work.

"I love the challenge of the industry and there are so many opportunities. I am ambitious but it is not the money that is so important, its the lifestyle. I love the lifestyle, work hard and play hard and the variety of the work. "I love the people who work in the industry, they are free spirits who want to have fun.

Katja, aged 22, came to this country from her home in Berlin, Germany, two years ago. She agrees with Damien.

"It has been hard work but I enjoy outside catering. I love working with the people and I was always sure since I was 14 that I wanted to work in the catering industry. "You can go all over the world and the more experience you gain the higher responsibility you are given. But I do my job out of love."