celebrated chef Albert Roux is going back to school as part of a £200,000 project to help young people follow his success in the kitchen.

Roux, known for Le Gavroche in London with three Michelin stars, and his Chez Rouz chain which is well established in Scotland, is to develop an Albert Roux Kitchen in the home economics department at Charleston Academy in Inverness.

It has just won £40,000 backing from the Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee Inverness Common Good Funding.

Roux, 77, has been advising and working with the school for several years.

Building the new kitchen and installing specialist equipment should be completed next year.

It aims to create a modern work environment, allowing pupils to see the realities of kitchen life and help them get hospitality-industry jobs.

The rector of Charleston Academy, Chris O'Neill, said: "Our work with Mr Roux over the years has been extremely beneficial for the educational and work experiences of our pupils.

"The new Albert Roux Kitchen will exemplify equal opportunities by bringing together different age groups and genders. Increasing numbers of boys now wish to pursue careers in hospitality and will embark on this pathway with their subject choices in school.

"Previously many successful people in the hospitality industry didn't consider it as their first career choice. As the industry contributes 21% of the Highland's economy, this can only be good for the north of Scotland."

He said once the kitchen is established the school has plans to integrate parts of the culinary course with the languages department to promote Scottish Studies, Gaelic and French.