As fans of River Cottage will probably know, a few weeks ago, the converted barn that was used in part as a cookery school on the grounds of the River Cottage property was decimated in a fire.

TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall – who of course presents River Cottage – was filming overseas at the time of the blaze, however, he’s since returned to the UK to survey the damage the fire caused.

And though he’s said he was “deeply shocked” by the fire, he has since praised what he branded as the “Blitz spirit” shown by his TV team who’ve coped with the aftermath of the blaze.

It’s the team’s hard work in setting up a “field kitchen” to honour bookings made by clients of the Devon farm and cookery school that Hugh was particularly impressed by.

He told the PA, “It was a mad shock to get the news so far from home. You feel so powerless to get involved…”

However, Hugh added, “It was so heartening to get the messages of goodwill and enthusiasm coming back from the guys here.

“This has blown me away. It just shows what incredible spirit and enthusiasm and professionalism the RC team has mustered to pull this off.

“And of course, not just them. It has been done with an incredible amount of local help.

“We have had the fantastic professional relationships but also neighbours who popped around with cakes and tea.”

The “field kitchen” was created with the assistance of the Pop Up Hotel Company and Abbas Marquees, who have created what’s described as “a professional catering kitchen and cookery school in a marquee close to the burnt-out building.”

Here’s the moment Hugh first saw the wreckage of the building when he returned from his trip abroad…