THE countdown is on for a school chef from Denbighshire set to compete in a prestigious final next month.

Jane Jones from Ruthin was recently crowned champion of the Regional Heats of the Lead Association for Catering in Education (LACA) Welsh School Chef of the Year 2019 competition.

The 49-year-old, who has worked as a cook at Ysgol Twm o'r Nant in Denbigh for the last five years, competed in the Welsh finals at Weston College, Weston-super-Mare on January 23.

Having been announced as the winner, she is now set to go on to represent Wales in the National Finals at Stratford Upon Avon on March 7 - where a cash prize of £1000 is up for grabs.

"Following the finals and thanks to feedback from the judges, I now know what I need to improve ahead of the nationals," Jane said.

"I don't like to big myself up a lot but I am chuffed to have won the regional heats. I think if I had come away without winning, it would have been gutting because I worked hard for it.

"For the final, I will be preparing the same courses as last time, but I hope I can make them even better this time around.

"The Twm O'r Nant pupils have helped me out and are brutally honest so I know that if I receive positive feedback from them, then it is always a good place to start."

Jane, who says her inspiration for cooking stems from her mother, was crowned champion in the regional finals after preparing two delicious courses.

For her main, she cooked her 'Marvellous Meatballs' dish - consisting of lamb meatballs served in a tortilla bouche, veg kebabs, rosemary potatoes and yoghurt dip. For dessert, she prepared a fruit-topped shortbread served with a quenelle of lavender cream.

The Lead Association for Catering in Education (LACA) School Chef of the Year Competition has been the flagship event for school chefs to showcase their professional skills for more than twenty years.

The National Final comprises of the ten champions from the regional heats in England, Scotland and Wales, but new for this year, is the addition of two wild card finalists.

In addition to the honour of winning the national title, the 2019 champion will receive a £1000 cash prize and the LACA 2019 School Chef of the Year trophy.

He or she will also be awarded a work experience trip and an invitation to a calendar of upcoming high-profile catering events.