DOZENS of students served up a treat in the finals of a cookery competition held at Bury College.

Students from high schools across Greater Manchester travelled to the college to take part in a Master Chef competition, and were tasked with making two meals with seasonal produce with a budget of just £10.

However they rose to the challenge and did not let the heat of the kitchen get to them.

The 26 students worked in pairs, and created a chicken based main course and a dessert, with dishes including pesto chicken kebabs and jerk chicken curry to desserts of cheesecakes, profiteroles and carrot cake.

The competition was judged by a range of professional chefs including Matthew Rowntree of Whitefield-based Slattery, along with representatives of the college and Bury Council.

Alicia Bramwell and Abbie Davies, pupils at St James High School in Farnworth, were judged to be the winning pair.

The judges were bowled over by their dish of chicken wrapped in Parma ham stuffed with garlic cheese, followed by spiced apple meringue pie with berry coulee.

Alicia said: “I enjoyed taking part and I can’t get over the shock of winning!”

Abbie added: “It took a lot of hard work and messy kitchens but we got there in the end.”

Mr Rowntree said: “The standard in the competition was really high, but Alicia and Abbie stood out as winners because their dishes were well presented and tasty, with good flavours, especially the chicken.

“The team also had a good work ethic and demonstrated knowledge of hygiene and health and safety which is important in a busy kitchen.” Other schools that took part included Sharples School in Bolton, Oulder Hill Community School in Rochdale, Middleton Technology School, Fearns Community Sports College in Bacup and Mount St Joseph Business and Enterprise Centre in Farnworth.