A SCHOOL cook spiced up a catering competition when she won for the second year running.

Lynne Pearson, 38, works at Wolsingham Primary School and is the County Durham School Cook of the Year.

The competition, organised by Chartwells, the schools services provider, took place at the Hermitage Comprehensive School in Chester-le-Street yesterday.

School meals have come a long way since the days of limp cabbage and semolina, and Mrs Pearson's winning menu started with spicy Moroccan lamb with orange and carrot couscous and green salad.

This was followed by summer fruit crumble cake in a ruby coulis.

She said: "I can't believe I have won again, especially when I saw the other entries."

Mrs Pearson, who has three children, tries to cook things she thinks they would like.

She said: "I read a lot of magazines for recipe ideas and to see what is in season, and then I try them out on my own children.

"If they like them, I just make a few changes and add some finishing touches."

Mrs Pearson beat three challengers to win the Durham title, and now goes through to the Scotland and North-East regional heat of the National Local Authority Catering Association Competition.

She said: "I got through to the regional final last year and I'm going to try to go one better this time."

Last year, she also went for the spicy touch with a menu of beef fajitas served with pilau rice and green salad followed by rhubarb crumble cake with ginger sauce.

The runners-up were Ann Clasper, from Lanchester RC Comprehensive School, Mark Kemp, from Belmont Comprehensive, and Angela Butler, from St Mary's RC School, Newton Aycliffe.

Their menus included oriental turkey on a bed of noodles, bacon pasta bake and white chocolate billberry muffin.