Finalists compete to be school master chef - VIDEO

COOKING up a two-course meal to feed hundreds of hungry children is a difficult enough task - but all the more so working to a budget of £1.25 a head.

By The Newsroom

Published 12th May 2010, 10:21 BST

Updated 12th May 2010, 11:39 BST

That was the challenge facing 10 dinner ladies – and one "dinner man" – yesterday in the finals of the School Chef of the Year contest in Sheffield.

The 11 finalists had 90 minutes to create their meals at Sheffield City College, with the winner set to be announced this morning.

Representing Yorkshire and the Humber was Katherine Breckon, from West Cliff Primary School in Whitby, who cooked a main course of braised beef and mixed beans in a spicy tomato sauce, served in a bread "castle" with vegetables and potatoes.

For dessert she rustled up Howard's Delight – a lemon cheesecake on a ginger biscuit base, served with raspberries, a sugar twist and chocolate sauce.