A NORTH Tawton chef who cooked her way to the final of the prestigious South West Cook of the Year competition finished runner-up in this week?s cook-off ? just three points behind the winner.

Margaret Pridham beat off competition from 60 entrants to reach the final of the competition, which was judged by celebrity chef Phil Vickery and Michael Davies, head chef at the Holne Chase Hotel.

Margaret, 53, cooked a pork and apple cobbler with cider sauce followed by a Devonshire junket with clotted cream.

She dropped the three precious points which separated her from the eventual winner on the seasoning of her vegetables, which she put down to the fact she had to go and get help with a malfunctioning cooker.

Margaret said she was

disappointed not to win, but ?really enjoyed? the day.

?We were all cooking lovely Devon food, which I think is the safest and best in the country. We had a really nice celebration afterwards, talking about the food, different methods of presentation and ideas about cooking locally sourced food.

?The judges were very interesting to talk to and wanted to enquire into the sources of our produce. Phil Vickery was extremely interested in junket-making, because that is special to Devon,? said Margaret, who is determined to enter, and win, the Taste of the West-backed competition next time.

She said she was not at all nervous at competing in the cook-off.

?I really enjoyed it ? it was the same as any other day working really,? said Margaret.