Mouthy chef Gordon Ramsay plans to establish his own catering academy after slating British food colleges.

The restaurateur, who lives in Wandsworth, said his central London cookery school would award unique diplomas and offer apprenticeships of up to two years.

He told Caterer magazine: "I'm fed up not just with the NVQ standards, but with what's coming out of our catering schools.

"I want to set up my own modern day apprentice scheme where students will experience everything from a most amazing pub to a one, two, or even three Michelin starred establishment.

"And if they want to spend three months in a florist, followed by a two month stint with one of our bakers, or a stint in New York, then we will arrange it.

"I'm not talking about fast-track courses here - I'm talking about six months, to 18 months, to two-year courses, issuing our own diplomas."

Ramsay's latest venture is the transformation of the Warrington Hotel in Maida Vale into a gastropub.

It follows the opening of The Narrow in Limehouse and The Devonshire in Chiswick.