BUDDING chefs from three local schools donned their aprons and hats to battle it out for the title of Young Chef of the Year.

The event, held at Blackpool and The Fylde College, aims to help pupils from the three schools which entered, Highfield High, Greenlands County High and Montgomery County High, to further their cookery skills in the hope that they go on to enter the BBC Junior Masterchef programme.

And in a similar format to the TV series, each of the nine teams of two pupils had to produce a two-course meal for two people within a £10 budget.

But it was Linzi Impett and Jennifer Jones, both 15 and from Montgomery, who whipped the judges into a frenzy with their menu of pork medallions in a herby cream sauce served with baked aubergine, basil and mozzarella rolls, and an orange and ginger cheesecake served with raspberry coulis and fresh strawberries.

The pair whisked off with the title and trophy after producing the main course and dessert within the two hour time limit.

The event was the culinary culmination of months of preparation, involving heats for around 40 pupils aged from 13-16, before the nine teams were selected.

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