EIGHT teenagers cooked up a storm in the first round of a county wide culinary competition. 

The youngsters were taking part in the Leading Individual Hotels of Cumbria Young Chef Competition 2013 at Augill Castle in Kirkby Stephen.

The 15-year-olds, from Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Ullswater and Settlebeck School, Sedbergh, were tasked with cooking their interpretation of a Cumberland pie followed by their choice of pudding, using local and seasonal ingredients.

Their dishes had to feed two people and cost lest than £10. The entrants produced imaginative meals using recipes inspired by everything from grandmothers to the internet and unusual interpretations and creations included chilli-laced Cumberland pie, chipolata-topped chicken pie, apple snow and Kendal mint cake cream.

The winners of the competition were Joanna Keetley and Sarah Thornborough from Kirkby Stephen, Annabelle Brewer from Appleby and Clare Harbot from Settlebeck who faced an impressive judging panel consisting of Liam Berney, owner of Cottage in the Wood in Whinlatter Forest and Andy Nicholson, general manager of Linthwaite House Hotel, near Windermere.

All eight participants were praised by the judges and awarded a specially-made apron. The four winners of this round will face professional kitchens to create a lunch for friends and family in the semi-final in November. The grand final will take place at Augill Castle in December.