ASPIRING young chefs gathered for a cooking competition at The Cotswold School in Bourton-on-the-Water.

The students competed in the first round of the Rotary Young Chef competition for the seventh successive year.

The challenge before them was to prepare and cook a three-course meal for two people, using ingredients costing no more than £15.

Two hours were allowed for cooking and preparation, commencing at 9.30am.

This year there were four judges, led by Peter Boxall, president of North Cotswolds Rotary Club.

Mr Boxall spent most of his working career in the hotel and catering business, buying The Dial House Hotel in 1989.

For the task of judging the competition he was assisted by Rotarian Bob Hadley, together with Amanda Everitt, a governor, and Caroline Wrightson, head chef at The Cotswold School.

Six students - Alice Cannon, Henry Cannon, Peter Hoole-Jackson, Ed Parker, Hattie Price and Florence Sumner prepared starters including pan-fried asparagus wrapped in Parma ham, mackerel pate on sourdough toast with watercress, and chilli and lemon squid.

Main courses included salmon fillets with carrots, potatoes, mange tout and cherry tomatoes, chicken Kiev with garlic sauce, pork stir-fry with cashews, lime and mint, or for those who like curries, a Bangladeshi korma.

Desserts included an apple tart, panna cotta served with raspberry coulis, lemon tart, and profiteroles with chocolate sauce.

The judges chose Hattie Price, aged 14 as the winner and in second place was Ed Parker, going through to the next round.