A Towy Valley schoolgirl has cooked up a storm at a regional competition.

Ysgol Bro Dinefwr pupil Lowri Rowlands has reached Springboard’s FutureChef national final beating tough competition from other youngsters across the region.

The 15-year-old along with other aspiring chefs will now compete for the title of FutureChef 2017 and a chance of work experience with the best chefs in the industry in a five star kitchen.

The scheme aims to tackle the severe skills shortage facing hospitality by inspiring 12 to 16 year olds to develop their cooking skills and understanding of nutrition which directly relates to the national curriculum and gives young people a life skill.

Springboard’s FutureChef features a four stage competition annually involving over 8,000 participants which includes classroom resources, chef demonstrations and challenges, and forms a link between schools and hospitality employers.

The year 10 pupil said: “I am delighted to be taking part in the FutureChef final in London next month.

“In the previous rounds I have received mentoring from David Vale, chef owner of the Valance in Llandybie, who has been really helpful as well as my cookery teacher Mrs Martin.”

To earn her place in the final, Lowri served an adventurous menu of stuffed chicken with tomato pesto and spinach, wrapped in Parma ham with a fondant potato, root vegetable, leek and chicken thigh cabbage moulds, carrots and rosemary and prune cream sauce. She followed this with panna cotta for desert.

Lowri will have just four weeks to master two courses for two people in 90 minutes before she has to do it live in the final.

Mrs Doreen Martin, cookery teacher, said: “The aim is to create two courses with a budget of £10.

“I received a list of ingredients on February 27, which only gives us a month, but the experience is fantastic for pupils and gives them an opportunity to work with professionals.

“Previous pupils have walked away with a full set of chef whites, their own set of knives and potentially a job opportunity at the end of it.”

Lowri will now compete at Westminster Kingsway College in London on March 27.