Stephen Bewick, from Coquet High School, Amble, will go head-to-head with Laura Cross, from the Duchess's High School, Alnwick, in a bid to be crowned Young Chef of the Year.

Geoff Proudlock, of House and Home, Alnwick, will again be sponsoring the event and donating the prizes of £300 House and Home vouchers for the winner and £200 for the runner-up.

Sanofi-aventis of Alnwick will also be sponsoring the competition.

The chefs will take part in a cook-off to create a main meal and dessert fit for a king using local produce.

Judges John Blackmore, of The Plough, Alnwick, and Jimmy Dodds, chef at RAF Boulmer, will decide who will take the title.

Coquet High student Adam North was crowned Young Chef of the Year at last year's food festival and Daniel Wayman, from the Duchess's School, won the title in 2005. He now works as a chef at The Alnwick Garden.

Kitchens for the event are being specially made by Geoff Keenan, of Outlook, Alnwick. Pots, pans and cooking utensils are being provided by House and Home.

The competition will be held on Saturday, September 22 at 11am in Alnwick Playhouse. Admission free.

The food festival takes places around Alnwick on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23.

See next week's Gazette for a special supplement.