BUDDING young chefs have been battling it out in the kitchen during the final round of the King’s Ely Junior Master Chef competition.

In keeping with the popular BBC programme, students had to cook their signature dish to enter the competition, which had to cost no more than �7, be made with locally produced products and be cooked in just 50 minutes.

After two highly contested heats, the four finalists had to cook another dessert or main course dish in the final cook-off, hoping to impress judge Mr McInally, who is the school’s head chef.

After much deliberation it was victory for the Victoria, after Kitty Bowles’s triple layered Victoria sponge cake with fresh strawberries and cream wowed the judges.

Food technology teacher Jayne Mackay said: “The finalists produced some mouth-wateringly tempting dishes, including sausage pasta, raspberry shortcake and chocolate pudding.

“All of the contestants put their best effort into this competition and the judging was very close.”

Some of the children may also go on to apply for the BBC’s Junior Master Chef.