A NEWTON Aycliffe man with a burning ambition to be a chef has won a place on a training scheme.

Shane Punshon has been chosen from hundreds of students across the country to become an apprentice on the first Corus hotels' Chef School training scheme at the Hall Garth Hotel, Darlington.

The apprenticeship is one of 20 being offered at hotels across the country by Corus hotels, which hopes to develop a new generation of talented British chefs. Shane, 20, who attended Greenfield Comprehensive School, became interested in cookery five years ago and was inspired by his family who encouraged him to cook at home. His favourite dish is souffl.

He said: "I love cooking and I've always been interested in the catering trade. I would like to run my own kitchen and I hope that the chef school will help me to achieve that ambition."

Chef School has been set up in response to an acute chef shortage in the UK. Dean Barclay, head chef at Hall Garth hotel, said: "Shane has demonstrated the ability, commitment and enthusiasm required to succeed in this challenging industry and we are delighted to welcome him to our hotel."