YOUNGSTERS are being urged to get their culinary thinking caps on to raise awareness of, and help celebrate, British Food Fortnight.

Lockwoods’ restaurant on North Street, Ripon, has launched a competition to find the best British recipe from the area’s school children.

Primary and secondary school children in Ripon and the surrounding area are being asked to send in their best recipe using only British ingredients.

Owner Matthew Lockwood hopes that this will work with school curriculums to help make children more aware of the pleasures of growing, cooking and eating proper food.

“Good food is vital to children’s health and wellbeing,” he said.

“This competition will teach them about all the great British food we have, much of which we have right here on our doorstep.”

Ten children from across the region will be invited to come and cook with Mr Lockwood and the head chef at Lockwoods.

And there will also be an opportunity to witness first-hand the short journey from fork to plate thanks to the restaurant’s relationship with Ripon’s Workhouse Museum Garden.

Mr Lockwood added: “There is a wealth of great produce and suppliers in North Yorkshire and our aim with the competition is to show children more about local and British produce, and start their love of food and cooking at an early age.”