WHEN it comes the Sunday roast he's as hot as mustard and when knocking up a fancy sweet he's nobody's fool.

At the age of 14 Conor Millard from Cwmtillery has served up his school and family a giant portion of pride after winning a regional cooking contest.

"I want to be the best young chef in Wales and then go on to a job at one of the really posh hotels" says the boy who has already been spotted by a culinary talent scout.

After taking the mid-Wales finals of a cooking competition organised by Rotary International Conor, a pupil at Abertillery Comprehensive is up for the South Wales finals.

"I just love cooking" he says.

"I've always made my own snacks but after I saw some of the TV chefs I started on the more adventurous stuff.

"Heston Blumenthal is the cook who made it all come alive for me.

"When I was in year Seven I asked Mrs Johns the head of the department if I could do cooking and she said she was happy to see me so enthusiastic.

"I was surprised to find that the boys in the class actually outnumbered the girls who seem more interested in textiles and child development.

"I started with simple things like soups and worked my way up to full-scale meals."

In the mid-Wales cook-off at Brecon, Conor found himself up against sixth-formers.

“Everyone looked very professional and a lot of them were a lot older than me but I was determined not to be intimidated by it all.

“I started with the bread which I covered and put it in a dry place to rise while I got on with making shortbread biscuits.

“By the time I was deeply involved in doing all this I realised I was in with a shout.

“I thought 'I can do this.

“My first course was leek-and-potato soup in a bread bowl followed by Parmesan and parsley chicken served in a mustard sauce with duchesse potatoes, green beans and carrots.

“For dessert I presented a strawberry shortbread stack.

“For two hours the pressure was constant but I told myself that I had to keep cool and not be too confident or too pressured.

“I never let nerves get the best of me.”

Despite being known for his prowess in the kitchen - Conor cooks for his grandmother and members of the family on Sundays - his mum, Paula didn't believe him when he came home and said he'd taken the top slot in the regional contest.

“She only really believed me when I showed her the certificate.”

Department head Mrs Mair Johns said" Conor's really taken to and will be doing his GCSE.

“After he'd won the regional competition a chef passed on his card and told him to stay in touch.

“It's all fingers crossed now for the national competition.”

Conor’s dad Julian, a painter and decorator, is himself a competent cook.

“Conor likes to look over my shoulder and both his grandmothers have passed on advice.

“His elder brother Arrun doesn't seem to have inherited the skill, though.

“He can't cook chips without setting the smoke alarm off.”