AN Okehampton chef is celebrating after joining the distinguished ranks of the Masterchefs of Great Britain.
Paul Hostan-Pegrum, chef at Betty Cottles on the outskirts of Okehampton, is one of around 200 people across the country with Masterchef status.
Paul said the accolade was the culmination of ?23 years of hard work?.
?It is very hard to get into, you have got to show that you are at the top of your profession,? he added.
To be recognised as a Masterchef, someone has to be put forward by existing members of the elite group, Paul said he was taken aback to receive the letter last month explaining that he had been accepted as a Masterchef. ?I nearly fell off my stool,? he said.
Paul said when he started training to be a chef at Southgate Technical College in London two decades ago, he never could have imagined he would one day receive the kudos of being recognised as a Masterchef.