PATIENTS' dinner trays were made extra special as York's celebrity chef dished up some festive treats.

John Benson-Smith cooked up the delights at York District Hospital as a new Christmas menu came out for the National Health Service.

Staff and patients were able to taste the new dishes in the Mallard Restaurant, including a home-made soup, a Christmas trifle and a vegetarian dish.

John, chef at Hazlewood Castle, near Tadcaster, has worked with TV personality Loyd Grossman's team, which worked with the NHS to produce the new recipe book.

Updated: 09:38 Saturday, December 22, 2001