ONCE school dinners were the butt of many a joke but over the years they have changed beyond all recognition.

Youngsters at one North Yorkshire school positively rejoice when they file in for lunch, tucking into joys such as Captain Cook's pasta and Dracula's Delight dessert.

Now their catering manager has reaped the benefits of her hard work after taking the national title of School Chef of the Year.

Sharon Armstrong, of Caedmon Secondary School, Whitby, beat seven other finalists to take the top honour after impressing a panel of judges that included TV chef Brian Turner, at a cook-off in Birmingham.

The 42-year-old is in charge of providing meals for 450 pupils at her school and is now looking forward to serving up the winning dishes on her return to work.

Mrs Armstrong, a school cook for eight years, rustled up a main course that included a sweet and sour salad, served with an East Coast muffin, followed by Dracula's Delight - a raspberry jelly topped with white chocolate mousse and shortbread biscuits.

"I am hoping the kids at school will love this. I can't wait to try it out - once I come back down to earth," she said.

"It's challenging trying to come up with nutritious recipes when a lot of the kids would rather have junk food, but I think that is part of our duty."

The finalists were asked to produce a two-course meal for just 80p and within 90 minutes.

The competition, which has been running for ten years, is organised by the Local Authority Caterers' Association to encourage creativity and flair in school kitchens.

The judges awarded highly commended status to two other contestants - Maureen Deans, of St Joseph's RC Primary, Hebburn, South Tyneside, and Louise Ayres, of All Saints Primary, in March, Cambridgeshire.