A SCHOOL chef from Norton Fitzwarren is hoping to cook up a storm in a bid to become Britain’s School Chef of the Year.

Jane Thomas, a cook at Halcon Primary School in Taunton, has been feeding children there for the past 11 years.

On Tuesday, March 3, she is hoping she can beat off competition from six other chefs from the South-West at the regional finals in Plymouth.

Jane, 45, said: “I’m really excited and nervous about the competition – I took part four or five years ago and didn’t win, but it was a really good experience.

“Hopefully I’ll have more luck this time.”

Each contestant has been challenged with making a tasty meal aimed at 11-year-olds and costing £1.60 per child.

Jane will be making an “East meets West spiced meatballs main” and a “Fruity Crunch Crumble”, and has an hour and a half in which to do it.

She said: “We have themed days at school and this is one of the meals I make for those.

“The children really love it and are always asking me to make it.

“I think nowadays a lot more children do have spicy foods.

“I have been practising a little bit for it.”

The competition has been run annually for the past two decades by the Lead Association for Catering in Education.

If Jane is successful next month she will go on to represent the South-West in the national final in May.

She said: “The experience is all a bit like Master Chef – there are film crews on you and people asking questions.

“I wish I could just go in the corner and cook – I’d be fine then!”