A YOUNG Milton Abbot man is taking his first steps on the road to realising his big ambition to be a chef ? thanks to a job offer and a big transport boost.

Dean Hannant, aged 16, has always loved cooking and when he left Tavistock College earlier this year he was delighted to be offered a job as a kitchen porter and trainee chef at the famous Horn of Plenty hotel and restaurant at Gulworthy.

The only hitch was that Dean lives with his parents at Milton Abbot ? miles away from the restaurant and with no access to public transport. His parents were having to ferry him to and from work, sometimes as late as 1am, until help arrived from a West Devon charity.

WestDEN, which has just moved to its new base at Coryton, has loaned Dean a scooter for six months to enable him to commute to Gulworthy, while he saves up for a bike or car of his own.

Dean said he was delighted with the boost to his fledgling career: ?It?s amazing working at the Horn of Plenty ? it?s a great opportunity for me. I have always wanted to be a chef, I enjoy cooking and cook a lot at home ? and I enjoy eating!?

And Dean is not alone in his good luck: Nicholas Alexander, also 16 of Coryton, is working at the Horn as a kitchen porter while he looks for an apprenticeship at a restaurant. Nicholas lives at Coryton and has also borrowed a scooter from WestDEN?s Getting There project.

Nicholas said: ?The only other option was a taxi ? and that was half my wages gone, which meant I couldn?t have saved for my own transport. The scooter scheme is a very good idea.?

Peter Gorton, master chef at the Horn, said: ?I think the project is an excellent idea. One of the first questions we ask as an employer is whether people have transport, as we depend on them turning up to work reliably. This scheme gives them the opportunity to take up a job offer ? it also gives them the responsibility of looking after a bike, which is an important step on the road to independence.?

WestDEN?s Getting There project has 30 two-stroke Yamaha scooters for loan to young people in West Devon and the Tamar Valley. For more details ring Max Jowett on 0845 345 5077.