A SCHOOL chef has served up a treat after she used her experiences of catering for dozens of pupils to clinch the title of the county's best school cook.

A SCHOOL chef has served up a treat after she used her experiences of catering for dozens of pupils to clinch the title of the county's best school cook.

Dee Neave, of Fairhaven Primary School in South Walsham, has been named as Norfolk's school chef of the year by the Local Authority Caterers Association.

Mrs Neave beat off other rivals by cooking a lamb kofte and curried lentil dish with a toffee apple crumble dessert for just £1.10p in the space of hour and a half.

As well as her own culinary skills the 46-year-old owes a large part of her success to the school's pupils and staff as they sampled and vetted her tasty dishes. Her lamb kofte now appears on the school menu along with roast dinners, pizza, cottage pies and delicious puddings.

Mrs Neave said: “They all seemed to like it a lot and did not think it was too spicy. I love coming here to work as it is a lovely school with very friendly staff and children.”

Mrs Neave will now take part in the Anglia regional heat of the LACA's national school chef competition next April and if she succeeds she will then go through to the national finals.

Headteacher Mel Fearns said: “Dee is a much loved member of staff here who produces outstanding culinary standards for our children and we are delighted she has been recognised at a county level for her fantastic cooking skills.”