A talented school cook from Medway has been named the South East School Chef of the Year.

Barry Brewington, who works at Medway University Technical College, was competing against eight other chefs from across the region in the competition, which took place at the Nestle headquarters in West Sussex today.

Against the clock and under the scrutiny of the judges, he had to prepare a main course and a dessert suitable for 10 and 11 year olds.

Mr Brewington prepared Moroccan meatballs and Italian panna cotta - claiming top place in the competition.

He will now go on to the national final against other regional champions on March 2.

The 60-year-old, who studied at the same catering college in Thanet as celebrity chefs Gary Rhodes and Richard Phillips, has worked in catering since he graduated.

He has been at Medway UTC since it opened in 2015, cooking for 130 pupils every day.

He said: “We get some lovely comments about the food from students. The real test is whether there is any food left on the plates, and there rarely is.”

Mr Brewington, who also enjoys cooking for his three daughters, aged 22, 23, and 26, and partner Kathy, has been practising his dishes at the college in Gillingham and at his home in Lunsford Lane, West Malling.

He said: “The meatballs are something I often do at home for my family. I usually do them with chopped gherkins and lots of spices so it is quite a spicy dish. But I adapted it to suit the competition because it is aimed at Year 6 children."

Contestants had to use Nestle ingredients so with the dessert he served a flapjack made with Shredded Wheat and apple.

He added: "The texture with the panna cotta works really well.”