FIVE promising young cooks will compete for the chance to show their skills in the Yorkshire final of the prestigious Rotary Young Chef contest.

Four students from Bedale High School and another from Northallerton School and Sixth Form College qualified from local heats after impressing judges with their culinary talents.

The local heats were arranged by Northallerton Mowbray Rotary Club and judged by ex-RAF Warrant Officer Nick Wright, formerly of the RAF Leeming catering team.

The students were tasked with preparing two-course meals against the clock.

Janet Crampton, president of Northallerton Mowbray Rotary Club, praised them for the quality of their cooking.

She said: “All the students have shown tremendous talent and dedication.

“This is a really tough challenge and the meals they produced were absolutely outstanding.”

The North District cook-off will take place in Bedale next month, with the winner going through to the Yorkshire final at Betty’s Cookery School in Harrogate in February.

Beyond that, regional winners from all over the UK will go head-to-head in a national final for the chance to win a trip to Tuscany plus a cash prize.