MASTER chefs Andrew Nutter and Paul Heathcote watch out -- there are plenty of young pretenders waiting to steal your crowns.

In the cookery classes of East Lancashire's schools the celebrity chefs of the future are preparing dishes to wow even the most fussy food-lover.

And the proof was most definitely in the pudding, main course and starter at Blackburn College's Interschools Cookery Competition.

Youngsters from 11 high schools pulled on their aprons and pulled out all the stops to create dishes with a millennium theme and their own special ingredients for the competition, sponsored by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

And the teenagers tantalised the tastebuds of the competition judges with such mouthwatering dishes as tagliatelle and tuna, millennium glitter butterfly dessert, spicy risotto and tuna steaks.

Celebrity chef Brian Mellor, who spent four years cooking for the stars at Granada Television and is the former executive chef of the Burlingtons group, was on hand throughout the competition to give tips and acted as one of the judges, along with Linda Marr and Barbara Clapton.

Brian said: "I can't believe the standard of the dishes these youngsters are creating at the ages of 14 and 15 -- it is really impressive. "When I was that age I think making a milkshake was about my limit. They really have thought about what they are doing and have come up with wonderful ideas."

There was little to choose between the recipes created by the teams from the 11 schools but Westholme girls Sarah Cawtherley, 14, and Emma Lee, 14, won the judges' votes to take first prize.

They were closely followed by Lyndsey Thurston, 15, and Craig Holden, 15, of Pleckgate School in second place, and Jenna Feast, 15, and Andrew Kay, 14, from St Wilfrid's took third place.

Sarah and Emma now have the opportunity to emulate the success of Blackburn College student Carla Connor, 16, who was recently named young chef of the year at a competition in Lancaster.

The girls have been offered the chance to represent the college in next year's competition and will get extra tuition from the college staff to fine tune their culinary skills.

Pictured are Emma Lee (left) and Sarah Cawtherley of Westholme Upper School, Blackburn, with chef Brian Mellor.

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