ASPIRING chefs from across the region battled it out in the first heat of a cookery competition in Darlington.

Ten youngsters aged between 12 and 16 cooked up a storm at Darlington College to compete for a place in the northern regional final of the national FutureChef competition.

William Bolsover, 15, of Kirkbie Kendal School, Cumbria, and Ceri Cooper, 14, of Durham Johnston School, claimed the top spots after impressing the judges with their menus.

They served up culinary delights including roasted baby chicken with smoked paprika and roasted root vegetables and chicken cordon bleu with a toffee pudding dessert.

The pair will now go on to compete against youngsters from across the north in their bid to secure a place in the national final at Westminster Kingsway College in London on March 23.

The FutureChef competition is organised by the Springboard charity to get more youngsters cooking and thinking about a career in the food industry.