The cook at an Ashford primary school is in the running to win a national award for her hard work and dedication.

Hazel Forrester, who has worked in the kitchen at Godinton primary for the past 12 years, is among three shortlisted in the Primary School Caterer of the Year category of the EDUcatering Excellence Awards.

The 44-year-old said: “I didn’t know anything about it until I got an email saying I was in the top three. I just couldn’t believe it.”

Earlier this year, Hazel suggested turning the school’s canteen into a pirate’s cove, complete with a large mural of a pirate ship painted over the servery. All the kitchen staff now dress up and have adopted pirate names. Hazel is called Captain Skull.

Hazel said: “I love working here and I love seeing the children every day.”

Full story in the Kentish Express out now.