COUNCIL chefs will battle it out in the region to see who is the best in Britain.

The Association of Civic Hosts conference, at County Hall, Durham City, next month will include the 2004 Chef of the Year competition being run in association with British Meat.

The event is organised by Durham County Council's catering division, Service Direct.

A panel of judges and last year's winner, county council chef Stuart Thompson, 28, of Middlestone Moor, near Spennymoor, will decide the winner.

Speakers at the conference are expected to include Forbes Mutch, editor of Caterer and Hotelkeeper, and Simon Woodroffe, voted Restaurateur of the Year in 2000.

The Meat and Livestock Commission and other suppliers of equipment and produce will attend the event.

Mike Elsom, Service Direct catering operations manager, said: "It will be of great interest to anybody involved in the catering industry and a great chance to network with leading players in the trade from all over the UK.

"We will also be having our own version of Ready, Steady, Cook, featuring Andrew Pern, the Michelin-starred chef of the Star Inn, at Harome, North Yorkshire."

The conference, which will include a gala dinner, will run from Monday to Wednesday, March 29 to 31.