THIRTEEN young finalists took part in a Masterchefstyle cook-off at Frogmary Green Farm in South Petherton on Thursday as part of the Somerset schools ‘My Best School Dinner’ competition.

Somerset County Council’s Public Health team set up the cooking challenge to get local children and families more involved in the whole process of school lunches.

Contestants were asked to come up with a creative, nutritionally balanced meal that they would enjoy eating themselves at school.

The children were all aged between five and 15 years and between them they displayed confidence in their knowledge of food and cooking. The meals they produced were varied, interesting and of a very high standard.

Rachael Parker, Health Promotion Manager (Healthy Weight) at Somerset County Council and one of the judges, said: “The children were lovely, the standard of the food was incredible and the team did an amazing job in organising this event.

“Infant free school meals should help a family save up to £437 per year per child and will provide quality, healthy food for children every day. They will also help children develop good eating habits, are fun and will help to combat the rising problem of childhood obesity.”

One of the schools shortlisted in the competition were West Chinnock Primary, near Crewkerne.