BUDDING young chefs from Okehampton will be putting their culinary skills into practice on October 5 when they compete in a 'Ready Steady Cook'-style challenge judged by one of the South West's top cookery experts.

Chef of the Gidleigh Park Hotel and Exeter restaurateur Michael Caines will be sampling the dishes whipped up by students of Okehampton College as part of the Devon Celebration of Food Week.

A new initiative to promote local food and build on the enthusiasm for cooking by the youngsters of Okehampton College, the competition is inviting students to submit recipes, methods and a time-plan for a two-course meal for a teenager which can be prepared in two hours flat.

The 15 best entries will be selected for the Saturday morning challenge with all the cooking carried out at the college before being transferred to the Charter Hall for judging. Each student will be given £5 to make their meal.

It is hoped to make this an annual competition and an engraved trophy has been donated by William Cornish Jewellers in the town to be presented to the winning chef. Books signed by a variety of celebrity chefs, including Rick Stein, will also be awarded.

The competition is the brainchild of Derek Godfrey-Brown who pioneers local food projects in Okehampton and is at the forefront of Okehampton Farmers' Market.

Head of food technology at Okehampton College Jean Harris said it was a brilliant idea and as food technology was the most popular subject option at the moment at the college, it was going down a treat with pupils.

'We have hundreds of kids, girls and boys, who love cooking because it is so stimulating and creative,' she said.

'Catering has become a very fashionable career and the children can see that from watching all the chefs on TV, but what they have to appreciate is that it involves an awful lot of hard work as well.'

Mrs Harris said the emphasis would be on using local food, preferably from the farmers' market, and students should stick to the £5 limit as much as possible.

'It's a bit like TV's Ready Steady Cook, but we are giving them a little longer than 20 minutes because we want them to be relaxed about the whole thing,' she said. 'They can be as adventurous or as simple as they like with the recipes.'

A proposed £2-million technology block for Okehampton College, for which funding has been secured, will include a state-of-the-art catering kitchen where pupils can prepare meals for up to 30 people and a restaurant.

The college has also linked with the award-winning Percy's Hotel and Restaurant at Coombeshead and is supplying its catering academy with school leavers who have a natural ability and enthusiasm for catering.

'Food technology and spin-off ideas like this competition are about encouraging independence and thinking and using your own initiative,' added Mrs Harris.

October 5 sees the launch of the Okehampton Food Festival as part of the Devon Celebration of Food Week and there is lots going on in the town, including the farmers' market and a 'bountiful barbecue' in Red Lion Yard. Parents and local residents are being encouraged to pop along to the Charter Hall at 11.30am to see Michael Caines taste all the entries and select a winner.

Year 11 pupil Steven Plumridge, who was lucky enough to get a work experience placement with Michael Caines, said he would definitely be entering the competition.

'I have spent a long time planning my entry and I am really looking forward to cooking the dishes,' he said.

'Michael Caines is an excellent chef and he is very encouraging to young hopeful chefs.'