A TALENTED young Greenock Scout has the recipe for success after she cooked her way into the final of a prestigious competition.

Ellie Shaw, 14, has qualified for the Rotary Young Chef finale in Stirling next month.

Ellie progressed through the Rotary Young Chef heats and onto the district final where her second place spot secured her a place in the national final.

The young cookery maestro learned her food skills from her mum and her gran, starting out with cakes as a tot.

She said: "I fell in love with cooking when I was really small.

"I love cooking steaks and burgers because I know exactly how I like them to be cooked.

"I would love to be a head chef one day or own a restaurant.

"I love engineering too, so I might do food science."

Ellie is also a black belt in Taekwondo and has moved through the ranks of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.

She says Gordon Ramsay is her favourite chef.

She added: "I love his Kitchen Nightmares programme."

To get through to the final, Ellie had to make a three course meal for two people with a £20 budget - and she managed to prepare a feast for just £11.

Her menu was red pepper and chilli soup, pork medallions with creamed potatoes and onions, and an apple and cinnamon pie with hand whipped cream.

She is now fine-tuning her dishes for the final at Wallace High School in Stirling on March 7 where she will compete against nine other young chefs.

Her proud mum Jacqui said: "I'm really pleased for her and so proud.

"She's very determined and driven.

"The competition is about more than cooking - they have have to show a lot of different skills.

"These are skills for life."