The star of the BBC's Saturday Kitchen was put through his paces creating a delicious strawberry gateaux while up against the clock when he launched the challenge at Northumberland Fire and Rescue's headquarters in Morpeth.

The culinary challenge was to highlight the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East's Skills for Life Get On campaign, which is aimed at improving adult numeracy and literacy skills.

Helping the household name launch the scheme was Caroline Saunderson, a temporary crew manager in the fire control centre.

She went up against the chef to see if she could beat his time.

But not surprisingly it was the expert who was victorious, completing the task in two minutes and 24 seconds, compared to Caroline's four minutes and 47 seconds.

Caroline, of Blyth, has recently passed NVQ Level 2 in numeracy and also a European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) course.

The Fire and Rescue Service, which employs about 500 staff, has a learning centre at its Morpeth HQ, run in partnership with the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).

A variety of courses are offered including numeracy and literacy, computer and IT training and business management courses which are available to all the workforce and their families and friends.

Adrian Slassor, FBU learning fund finance manager, said: "For our profession numeracy and literacy is literally a matter of life and death as, for instance, firefighters need to be able to calculate how much air is left in their breathing apparatus and control room staff
need to be able to accurately log emergency calls."

James Martin began his training at Scarborough Technical College, where
he was student of the year three years running.

He said: "Being able to use maths and do simple calculations opens so many doors for people, from being able to help their children with their homework, work out a household budget or progressing in their career."

Between 2005 and 2007, more than 97,000 people achieved skills for life qualifications in the north east and between 2005 and 2008, more than 200 in the region's fire and rescue services have achieved qualifications in numeracy and literacy.

Chris Roberts, regional director, LSC North East, said: "Often numeracy and literacy skills are taken for granted but it is clear that they are the foundation stones which enable people to develop and progress in both their personal and professional lives.

"For anyone who is not comfortable with their ability when it comes to using numbers, reading or writing, there is plenty of free help and support available.

"Improving these skills can help people increase their salary, progress at work, fill in forms, help children with their homework as well as countless other benefits."

The Fire Brigade's Learning Centre was set up seven years ago by the Union Learning Fund and has been sustained and developed by several years of funding from the Learning for All Fund (LfAF), financed by the LSC North East and managed by unionlearn (the TUC's learning and skills organisation) to help trade unions set-up and manage workplace learning activity and centres in the region, with the help of Union Learning Representatives.