Bolton's best school chef revealed

Each cook had just one hour to cook a starter and a dessert for a school pupil using fresh ingredients. Dishes had to cost no more than £2 a head and the details of each dish were kept a closely guarded secret until judging day. The meals were judged on a number of criteria including flavour, presentation, nutritional balance and creativity. And the winner was Julie Edwards, a mobile manager, currently working at Ladybridge High School. She rustled up a main course of ham, cheese and tomato roll, with chocolate and coconut balls for dessert. She said: "I feel brilliant, I can't believe I've actually won as the competition standard is so high. I entered last year and I didn't even get close so this is just amazing. "I really enjoy cooking and I'm a healthy eater at home. School meals both taste great, use fresh ingredients and they're healthy." Bolton Council's executive member for environmental services councillor Akhtar Zaman added: "The standard was exceptionally high and my congratulations to the winner and everyone who got to the final. This was a chance for school chefs to show just how talented they are at cooking up nutritional, high quality and tasty meals on a fixed budget." "Our school dinners have been voted the best in the country which is a real testament to our chefs and latest figures show that we're well above the national average for meal uptake and more pupils are tucking into a healthy, quality school meal." Recent figures announced revealed that 53.3% of primary school children are opting for a school meal, compared to the national average of 41.4%. In secondary schools, 57.8% are choosing school dinners, a figure far greater than the national average of 35%.