Kendal College is to receive a grant of �400,000 to improve training in hotel and catering studies.

The college is aiming to become a centre of excellence for students who want to work in the tourism industry.

It already offers courses in catering, but hopes the new cash will allow it to offer a wider range of facilties, including the creation of a wine academy.

Last year the tourism minister Kim Howells complained the county did not have a centre of excellence for training new chefs and hotel staff.

Now, after a year of preparation, the college is through to the next stage of the Department for Education's processes towards becoming a centre of vocational excellence.

It means it will be awarded a �400,000 grant to hire new staff and improve kitchens, classrooms, and other facilities for training hotel and catering students.