A WISBECH pupil has qualified for the regional round of a national cookery competition.

William Sloan, from Wisbech Grammar School, won the club final of the Rotary Club Young Chef Competition, seeing off off competition from Thomas Clarkson Academy and Marshland High School students.

To qualify for the first inter-school stage of the contest, the West Walton teenager competed against a field of 30 young cooks at Wisbech Grammar School.

In the next round, the 14-year-old triumphed with his main course of lamb with pureed sprouts, parsnip crisps and a layer of potatoes.

The judges were also treated to a starter of potted Stilton and a honeycomb cheesecake.

He regularly travels to food demonstrations all over East Anglia with his mother, Alison Sloan, a food lecturer, broadcaster and Wisbech Grammar School’s head of nutrition.

Mrs Sloan said: “William goes through times where he will come and cook in the kitchen, but he is not in there a lot.

“However, he has got a very good eye for the presentation.”

He has secured a place in the East Anglian district round of the annual competition, which takes place in Suffolk in March.