FIVE young East Lancashire chefs have made it through regional heats of a schools’ cookery competition.

They have been selected from 32 to take part in the final of the Reg Johnson Young Chef Schools Competition, named after a Goosnargh poultry farmer.

The five are Nabil Hamza, from Blackburn Central High School, and Alina Munir, Iqra Nadeem, Jayden Diale and Scott Daniels, all from Accrington Academy.

Nigel Haworth, from Langho’s Northcote, judge at the heat held at Blackburn College, said: “I have been absolutely delighted with the standard. Each pupil had really thought about the design, presentation and timing of their dishes and it was a pleasure to see such passion for cooking in pupils so young.”

Top chef and proud Lancastrian Paul Heathcote said: “Reg was a great friend of ours and he would have been so proud of this competition and the enthusiasm demonstrated by the pupils."

The competition final will take place on May 1, at Blackburn College, where pupils will be competing for an inspiring prize package including dinner for six at Michelin-star restaurant Northcote and a cooking demonstration from Executive Chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen.