YOUNG chefs from Kidderminster demonstrated their skills and tastebuds in a school competition to uncover the next generation of cooks.

Rosie Newman, 7, of Franche Community Primary School, wowed a professional chef and other judges with her tropical rice salad dish, served up in a whole pineapple.

She had to recreate her masterpiece in front of the judges and a crowd of onlookers at the school’s annual food and garden show.

Her fellow winner was Olivia Atherton, 10, who created a healthy noodles with salmon dish. The recipe featured goodies including green beans, broccoli, carrots, red peppers, ginger, garlic, spring onion and coriander.

Matt Nicholls, of University Catering College Birmingham, was chief judge at the event.

The food and garden show is part of the Franche school’s drive to encourage healthy eating and help youngsters understand where their food comes from.

Pupils regularly visit farms and producers to understand more about food provenance and some food is grown in the school grounds.

The school’s kitchen also provides home-cooked food every day, with produce and meat sourced locally as much as possible.

Also at the event, Jo Duffield of Wyre Forest District Council helped children make garden lights using recycled materials, while Franche Co-Op staff encouraged children to make their own sandwiches with healthy fillings.

A fruit tasting and smoothie-making stall, run by Treetops Children’s Centre in Franche, highlighted the benefits of eating fruit.