Students raised their skills to new levels to impress the judges in the prestigious Rotary Young Chef competition.

A record number of 14 contestants from Northallerton School and Sixth Form College and Bedale High School took part in the initial cook-off before six were selected for the final organised by Northallerton Mowbray Rotary Club.

Each of the year ten and 11 students was tasked with producing a healthy two-course meal against the clock, with a tight budget for ingredients.

The winner was Michaela Pampalou, from Bedale High School, whose two-course meal of moussaka with Greek salad, followed by mini filled Greek pastries, won top marks from the judging panel led by ex-RAF Leeming Catering Flight Warrant Officer Nick Wright.

The judges admitted it was a tough decision because fellow contestants Raneem Al Masalmah, Hayma Alsafar, Ewan Kell, Olivia Robinson and Sophie Hutchinson ran Michaela very close.

“These students should be extremely proud of themselves because they have set new standards with the quality of their cooking,” said Mr Wright. “They were outstanding at every level.

“There was very little to set the students apart and what particularly impressed us was the preparation and initiative they put into their dishes. They have set the bar to a very high level indeed and I have no hesitation in saying this year’s competition has been the best ever.”

Also on the judging panel were Northallerton Mowbray Rotary Club youth chair Kevin Hardisty, Anne Wall, Sue Adsett and Joan Foster. It is the 15th year the club has organised the competition locally, with several national winners going on to full-time careers as chefs.

“We’re particularly grateful to the schools for helping to make this year’s competition such a big success,” added Mr Hardisty.