It was certainly a case of bon appétit! Students at Northgate High School, Dereham, dressed up as waiters and waitresses - complete with some drawn-on moustaches - and, speaking in French, ran a Parisien-style café for about 40 staff on Wednesday.

It was certainly a case of bon appétit! Students at Northgate High School, Dereham, dressed up as waiters and waitresses - complete with some drawn-on moustaches - and, speaking in French, ran a Parisien-style café for about 40 staff on Wednesday.

And it was not just so the 15 year seven pupils taking part could eat frites and mousse au chocolat from the specially drawn up French menu.

Vincent Everett, head of languages at the school, came up with the idea, which gave the youngsters a chance to try out the French they were learning in classes.

He said: “It has given them a chance to practise their French.

“There has been real food, real customers and they have a real chance to learn. The teachers have been more nervous than they are!

“The children have been absolutely fantastic.”

On the menu was salade nicoise, soupe a l'oignon avec croutons, croque monsieur, boeuf bourguignon and assiette de fromage.

Jordan Mott, 12, said: “It has been fun. I sometimes find French hard and this has helped me.”

Luke Rutland, also 12, said: “I was a bit nervous to start with but I have been able to use words like 'voila' and 'merci'!”

Meanwhile six year eight pupils have got through to the finals of a French podcast and video competition sponsored by BT.

They had to make a podcast/videopodcast on the topic of the school or their town.

The finals of the competition are to be held at BT's Adastral Park, Martlesham, Suffolk, on Tuesday.