FOUR of the finest school cooks in County Durham are battling it out for a coveted award today.

The Chartwells School Cook of the Year competition takes place at the Hermitage Comprehensive in Chester-le-Street.

They will be serving up dishes such as Moroccan lamb with orange and carrot couscous and white chocolate bilberry muffin.

The winner of the heat will go to the North-East and Scotland regional final, and possibly on to the national final of the Local Authority Catering Association Competition.

The County Durham finalists are:

Lynne Pearson, Wolsingham Primary, making Moroccan lamb with orange and carrot couscous and green salad, followed by summer fruit crumble cake in a ruby coulis;

Ann Clasper, Lanchester RC, with bacon pasta bake with mixed salad, ribbon carrots and garlic bread, followed by peach flame meringue topping;

Mark Kemp, Belmont Comprehensive, making spicy turkey strips with broccoli noodle stir fry followed by white chocolate bilberry muffin;

Angela Butler, St Mary's RC Newton Aycliffe, is entering oriental turkey on a bed of noodles with prawn crackers on broccoli florets and baron carrots, followed by banana surprise and vanilla sauce.