A MOTHER-of-two is hoping to sizzle her way to success in London today (Thursday) to be crowned Britain's best barbecuer.

Barbara Cairns, 47, of Barncroft, Leyland, kept her cool in the regional final of Britain's best barbecuer 2004 to win her place in London along with ten other finalists.

She entered the competition through a website and was the only person, out of hundreds who entered in the North West, to get all the questions correct.

Now, having proved her knowledge, she is being given the chance to show her grill skills by cooking a set meal and one of her own favourites, in front of a panel of judges including celebrity couple, Neil and Christine Hamilton.

Barbara will compete against the other regional finalists to win a holiday for two and the chance to represent Britain at the sixth world barbecue championship in Germany later this year.

"I am very excited about getting this far and going down to London and maybe even Germany," said Barbara, who works as an accounts manager in Warrington.

Barbara and partner John have barbecues all the time in the summer, so the alfresco grill master is quietly confident with her secret recipe.

"All I am going to say is lamb and mint," she said. "I think everyone will do chicken but I will do something a bit different.

"I am always entering competitions, but apart from winning a vacuum cleaner I have never got this far before."

Reaching the final is the second bite of the fame apple in two weeks for the self-confessed competition addict, and her second visit to London in as many weeks.

On Saturday Barbara and her sister Dorothy represented redheads in the BBC programme Test the Nation: The National IQ Test. The group finished as runners-up with an average IQ of 111, beaten by doctors with 116.

"The atmosphere was really fantastic, we had a wonderful time, even though we did come second," she added.