A CULINARY whizz from a Wyre Forest secondary school will be cooking up a treat at a forthcoming food competition.

Laura Alton, 15, has swapped her pencilcase for the apron to take part in Rotary Young Chef 2008.

The Wolverley CE Secondary School teenager battled through a hard-fought district final in Redditch in February to earn a place in the regional final in Cheltenham, on Tuesday.

Miss Alton was cool under pressure for the district final which saw her prepare a two-course healthy meal for two, and all for under £11 cost.

Judges were impressed with her menu of tiger prawns in a spicy tomato and basil sauce with homemade pasta and focaccia bread.

For dessert, she triumphed with a creamy lemon syllabub, fresh rasberries and crunchy biscotti.

Miss Alton also proved a cut above the rest when, after slicing her finger, the bandage then came off as she was preparing the biscotti dough.

She explained: "I suddenly realised that the bandage had come loose and so I had to throw the dough away. I thought I had blown my chances."

With the regional final ahead, the teenage chef is just two steps from the competition's national final.

Kevin O'Regan, headteacher, said: "I am delighted for Laura; this is a fantastic achievement.

"We will all be praying for her when she goes to Gloucester."

Mr O'Regan added, "There is a lot of emphasis now on giving young people the skills to cook.

"Many schools abandoned practical cookery some years ago but we have always believed it is an essential life skill and an important vehicle for learning all kinds of things."