A GCSE food technology student from John Kyrle High School in Ross-on-Wye has taken first prize in a chef competition.

Jamie Milnes, aged 15, came first in the Alliance in Partnership (AiP) Young Chef of the Year Competition, judged by celebrity chef Brian Turner.

He was up against 13 other school finalists from across the Midlands in a live cook-off at Heart of Worcestershire College.

His dish of chicken stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach, wrapped in Parma ham and served with garlic sauce on a bed of tagliatelle wowed the judges.

Mr Milnes said: "It was a lot of hard work keeping the cooking within the time, especially as I made my own tagliatelle too.

"I love cooking and watch Masterchef. I am studying food tech at school and would like to become a chef, so getting first prize is great.”

The competition was open to secondary-school students who had to plan a nutritionally balanced main meal dish costing no more than £1.50 per head.

AiP is a specialist education catering provider, providing meals for schools in the Midlands and South East England.

Headteacher at John Kyrle High School, Nigel Griffiths, said: "It is a great competition that not only promotes cooking as a valuable life skill but also inspires students to look at catering as a career option.

"We are delighted for Jamie – one of our students came third last year – in securing the top prize and getting advice from professional chefs which will be great for his further progress in this field.”