TAUNTON’S Castle School hosted to the local club round of the Rotary Young Chef competition, with 14 students competing to qualify to the district round.

Students from The Castle, Queen's College, Ladymead Community School, all in Taunton, and Kingsmead Community School, Wiveliscombe, took part.

The three judges were impressed by the overall standard.

Judges chairman Steve Purchase praised the eventual winner, Elisha Major, from Kingsmead, who improved on her runner-up position from last year.

She produced chicken liver pate with melba toast for starters, fish balls with yoghurt, cucumber and spring onion sauce as main course, and apple and cinnamon crumble for dessert.

Hetty Davies, of The Castle, was second with a borscht starter, main course of cheese and squash souffles, and lemon posset with almond biscuits to finish.

Elisha now progresses to further rounds, which culminate in national finals next year and was invited to the kitchens at Oake manor Golf Club to get some tips from the chefs there.