TALENTED young chefs cooked up a storm at a new Masterchef-style contest at a Gourock high school with the winner now preparing to represent Inverclyde at the district finals.

The Rotary Club of Gourock took inspiration from the hit BBC cookery contest as secondary students showed off their culinary skills for the chance to be crowned the area’s Young Chef of the Year.

Hotshot cooks from five schools took part in the event at Clydeview Academy, and were critiqued by special guest judge, BBC weather presenter Judith Ralston.

While contestants on Masterchef get a grilling from chefs Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti, Inverclyde’s batch of budding young cooks had little to fear as they impressed with their dishes.

Competition organiser and club past president Norman Pettigrew said: “The inaugural Gourock Rotary Young Chef of the Year competition got off to a flying start.

“Pupils treated the judges to an imaginative set of dishes under the watchful eye of a video camera relaying the kitchen tension, Masterchef-style, to an audience of family, friends, teachers and guests.

“Judith gave up her time to compere the event and interview the competitors, while pupils of Clydeview Academy entertained with a musical interlude.” Students battled it out for a magnificent trophy, kindly donated by Trophy World.

The talented chefs were: Kyle Thomas from Clydeview Academy, Ryan McKelvie from Inverclyde Academy, Erin Murdoch from Craigmarloch, Patryk Gozdz from St Columba’s High School and Caitlin Farren from Port Glasgow High.

They were out to impress judges Sandra Bell, catering lecturer from West College Scotland’s Finnart Street campus in Greenock, Kurt Hart, catering manager at Caledonian MacBrayne, and Greg Rons, chief chef at Royal Gourock Yacht Club.

But such was the level of quality on show, the esteemed panel had quite a task on their hands to decide on the winner.

In the end Clydeview’s Kyle Thomas made sure the beautiful trophy would stay in Gourock.

Port High’s Caitlin Farren was runner-up and Erin Murdoch from Craigmarloch finished in a respectable third place.

Mr Pettigrew said: “Seriously varied and delicious food was prepared and presented in the short hour and a half allowed by the competition.

“Results were close, but the winner was Kyle with his panfried ballotine of chicken with pork and thyme stuffing, served with roasted vine tomatoes, tied green beans, roasted potato stack and thyme jus, followed by a trio of winter berry desserts.

“Second was Caitlin Farren with her Ferguson’s fishcakes and sweet touch pudding. Third was Erin Murdoch with her sweet and sour chicken balti and ginger cheesecake.

“Kyle now goes on to the Rotary district competition in January and with luck, eventually to the national final where the prize is a week’s cookery course in Tuscany. All the pupils performed so well that they were awarded individual trophies for taking part.” The Rotary club hope the contest will become an annual event, encouraging pupils to think about the importance of good food, good diet and the fun to be had from cooking, as well as developing abilities in organisation and timing under pressure.

The club are very grateful to the teachers and schools who encouraged the contestants, especially hosts Clydeview Academy and their music department, and are indebted to their sponsors, Trophy World, Hebridean Princess Cruises and West College Scotland Finnart Street campus.

See today's Tele for full pictures.