SCHOOLGIRL Amy Goldsmith's mouth-watering culinary skills have landed her a cookery award.

The 13-year-old, a pupil at Ryton Comprehensive School in Gateshead, clinched the school's Cook of the Year competition, when her fresh strawberry meringue dessert was given top marks by a food expert.

The competition was held to help youngsters in years seven and eight find out more about healthy living and eating.

It was part of a drive by the school to develop their basic cooking skills and think about the nutritional value of foods.

Pupils at the school had to come up with a recipe for a baked product.

Then the pupils with the best 11 entries had to cook and prepare them in front of a professional restaurateur.

Keith Jarvis, of the Branches Restaurant, in Stocksfield, Northumberland, judged the competition, with teachers from the school's department of food and textiles.

The runners-up in the competition were: Caroline Brayson, Emily Lawson, Kirsty Parkes, Emma Carmichael, Ashleigh Cormack, Philippa May, Anna Rzepczynski Katie Wilson, Rachel Smith and Stephanie Parkin.