BUDDING chefs from Musselburgh cooked up a winning menu in a culinary challenge involving schools from East Lothian.

Lauren Robertson, who is in S3 at Musselburgh Grammar, and P6 pupils Keira Scott and Hayden Keenan, of Pinkie St Peter’s Primary, were victorious in the Little and Large Cooking Competition at Preston Lodge High School in Prestonpans.

Now in its ninth year, the aim of the contest is to link secondary and primary pupils in the joy of cooking as well as developing valuable life skills. It also aims to raise awareness of the healthy eating message in a fun way.

In the first round of the competition, two P6 pupils from each school were invited to their cluster secondary school. They teamed up with a secondary pupil who worked with and supported the younger pupils to create a healthy meal.

The winning team from the first round then went on to represent the cluster in a county cook-off, where pupils demonstrated their skills under the scrutiny of a panel of judges.

The home economics department at Preston Lodge High School hosted the final. All six secondary schools in East Lothian were represented along with the winning cluster primaries.

The judges were chef Rob Cunningham and Tim Elliot, who has experience in the hospitality industry.

Councillor John McMillan made the presentations and he commented on the high standard from all schools.

He said: “It was brilliant and good to see children from the school clusters working together, being creative and taking decisions.”

The competition was organised by home economics teachers, led by Wendy Waldie of Preston Lodge.