TWO school cooks went head-to-head in a battle to be named school chef of the year.

Wendy Bradbury, 45, head school cook at Penygarn primary school in Pontypool, faced-off against Davina Turner, a school cook from Rhondda Cynon Taf, in the competition in Cwmbran.

The two were competing for the top regional award in the Local Authority Caterers Association 's School Chef of the Year 2008 Competition, sponsored by Nestlé.

Sadly mum of two Mrs Bradbury, from Trevethin, saw her salmon and chicken jambalaya, followed by summer berry panacotta, beaten by Mrs Turner's shepherd's pie and Welsh cakes.

But first time competitor Mrs Bradbury said she enjoyed herself nonetheless.

"I will have a go at anything and basically I thought it would be good fun," she said.

"It was very nerve-wracking, but a good experience."

The two had to cook a main course and dessert dish to feed four people, costing 90 pence per head.

They cooked their dish in front of a panel of judges at Croesyceiliog Community Education Centre, including a professional chef, a dietician, a local authority catering expert, and 11-year-olds Bethany Young and Liam Thomas from Coed Eva Junior School.

Mrs Turner will now compete against chefs from England and Scotland in the national finals in June.