A STUDENT from Sir John Colfox School, Bridport has won the local heat of a national cookery contest.

Jody Groves 16, from Bridport will go through to the regional final of the Rotary Young Chef Competition at the end of March.

Five NVQ students from Sir John Colfox and Beaminster secondary schools took part in the cook-off to produce the best two person two-course meal for under £12.

Year 11 pupils Jody Groves and Will Hughes from Sir John Colfox school have been studying NVQ level one in food preparation at the Bridport Centre for Local Food for 18 months.

Year 10 pupils Laurence Norman and Daniel Williams from Sir John Colfox and Tas Kehoe from Beaminster school have been on the course for five months.

The centre is run by the West Dorset Food and Land Trust and catering trainer and assessor Clive Coombes said his most promising students were chosen.

The young chefs were judged by Gideon Hitchin who worked with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and now owns the Electric Palace Brassierie, Bridport.