PARKSIDE School student Imogen Pickles is taking on the whole country with her culinary skills.

She will travel to London in March to compete in the national finals of the Future Chef competition after winning the regional final.

She faced fierce competition from five other chefs aged between 14 and 16 while cooking in industry-style kitchens at Sheffield Hallam University.

Imogen has surpassed the success of Jake Taglione, a fellow student at the Cullingworth school, who last year got as far as the regional finals.

Imogen’s dish was a home-made Thai peanut and pork curry served with rice, charred lime and prawn crackers followed with a dessert of Lemon Meringue mousse with lemon curd and raspberry coulis.

Her dishes gained top marks in taste and flavour, presentation, nutritional balance, and she cooked with skill and excellent hygiene.

In the national finals Imogen will compete against 11 students, gaining a wealth of experience and meeting industry experts.

In preparation of a new dish she will receive mentoring from a chef at Gather and Gather in Leeds.

Parkside food tech teacher Sarah Trowers said: it was on "I am extremely proud of Imogen’s calm approach and her amazing talent. She was an absolute credit to Parkside School in the original competition and will be in the final."