SUPERCHEF Sarah Preston cooked up a treat for her school recently in a national food competition.

The 14-year-old Arnold School pupil dished up a Creda cooker for Arnold's food technology department as well as a watch for herself by reaching the regional final stage of the 2001 Creda Challenge.

The cooker manufacturer organises the annual competition to encourage 11-14-year-olds to learn more about food design. This year's challenge was to design a "better breakfast" and judges were impressed by Sarah's dish, entitled Spanish Sunrise.

And she was in the kitchen again battling it out with seven other regional finalists at food company Baxters of Speyside on Saturday. They were all competing for one of three places in the grand final, to be held in June in Birmingham.

Although Sarah, pictured, did not get through, school spokesman Ken Shenton said the school were "delighted" with her achievement.

He said: "She has done very well. We are absolutely delighted. Sarah is very adept in the kitchen and she has followed in quite a tradition of hopefuls who have qualified for the competition."

Head teacher Josie Fawcett also praised the teenager. "Unfortunately she was not placed but it's still an achievement. She has had a lovely time and has really enjoyed herself."