AN award-winning chef from Somerset whose cooking career has been flourishing in London hopes to open a new restaurant near to 'his roots'.

Jaimie Haselock, 34, from Halse, near Taunton, has been working in the capital city for more than a decade, as well as travelling further afield spreading his culinary talents.

Mr Haselock specialises in cooking game meat, earning himself the name GameyJaimie, and hopes to inspire the people of Somerset to eat more of it - as long as it's local.

He said: "I try to live my life now by land and by sea, via the veggie patch.

"I want to come back to my roots as I just have such a love and passion for the Quantocks and Exmoor, we live in such natural beauty here.

"After being in a concrete jungle for so long promoting West Country produce, why not come back and set up shop."

He plans to open a new restaurant within the next six months, which will include a cookery school and wine tasting, as well as offering private chef classes.

The cookery school will focus on 'rustic country' dishes, including game meat.

Mr Haselock's cooking has earned him the title 'CLA Game Chef of the Year' from magazine The Field, and he has also been working to teach young people in West Africa how to cook.

He added: "I travelled to West Africa last year to teach local village boys and girls how to cook for westerners. It was a major challenge but it seemed to crack the mould.

"From those classes there are no three safari lodges in Uganda under the GameyJaimie trading name.

"I've been all over the world, from truffle hunting in Tuscany, making fresh pasta in Bologna, and even catering for the Victoria's Secret summer fashion party.

"This area we live in, is a walk in an outside super market. There's fresh meat, fish, game, veg, and cheese.

"I want to come back and support local business's and promote field to fork as much as I can."