YOUNG cooks from schools across Bury donned their aprons and hats in a bid to be crowned junior masterchef.

They went stir crazy in the finals of Junior Masterchef 2014, run by The Rotary Club of Tottington and Bury West, and staged at Bury College.

The competition saw 12 teams of two students who made it to the finals tasked with creating a main meal and dessert in two hours, using fresh and local produce.

Pupils from Bury Grammar School for Girls, Broad Oak Sports College, Derby High, Elms Bank Specialist Arts College, Elton High and St Gabriel’s RC High all took part in the competition, which has been held for 17 years.

However, coming out on top of the menu were Elton High students Abbie Evans and Georgia Seddon, both aged 15, who presented chicken breast stuffed with cream cheese, spinach and chilli with duchess potatoes, followed by dark chocolate and chilli cases.

Mo Daho, assistant curri-culum manager for catering at Bury College, who was one of the judges, said: “The participants thought about their menus in great depth, especially since they have to make it both creative and healthy for both the dessert and main course.

“The environment is very high pressure.

“They are working within a fully operational kitchen and are given only two hours in which they have to created their courses.

“The students have excelled and have demonstrated both excellent skills and determination to produce the dishes.

“It has been a great experience for them.”