BUDDING cooks from local schools have been selected for the finals of a competition to find the best young chef in Hillingdon.

The semi-final 'cook off' in the Rotary Club Young Chef of the Year competition was held at Harefield Academy, in Northwood Way, last month, and the winners have now been selected. The finals will be held on March 30.

Semi-finalists selected in the junior category were Jawaad Ansari (Abbotsfield), Austin Young (Bishopshalt), Luke Powell (Queensmead), Orla Reilly (Harefield Academy), Rebecca Hawkins (Vyners), Sean Murphy (Haydon) and Shannon O’Dell (Swakeleys).

Tony Issac (Abbotsfield), Tyler Bell (Rosedale), Luke Bentley (Harefield Academy), Mona Jamil (Vyners), Leah Gibson (Bishopshalt) and Chandni Gill (Swakeleys).

All contestants, aged from 12 to 16, were tasked with identifying, preparing and serving a healthy two-course meal for two people within a budget of £15.

They were expected to demonstrate a high level of cooking skills in a preparation time of just one hour and 15 minutes from start to finish. The contest is now in its sixth year.

Peter Sale, CEO of sponsor Hillingdon Training said: "The competition is a fantastic educational experience that highlights the value of cooking to young people. We were pleased to once again be supporting the contest, which has supported young seeking to achieve their full potential, as well as enabling their parents to see them produce some delicious food."