With weeks left of the long summer holiday, now is the perfect opportunity for parents to spend time with their children road-testing recipes for kids’ kitchen contest Young Cooks.

Organised by the KM Charity Team, the Masterchef-style competition is open to children aged 6 to 19 from across the south-east, with shortlisted finalists being invited to cook for a panel of judges in November.

The winners of four different categories will share £500 in cash, and £100 of that money will go to the family winners.

And anybody who enters the competition by September 1 will be entered into a draw to win two Eurostar tickets.

Last year, the family prize was won by 10-year-old Brooke Keen from Hernhill C of E Primary School in Faversham, and her father, Ray.

The pair made skate wing, brown butter, capers and new potatoes, plus a dessert of tarte tatin with home-made ginger beer.

In addition to a cheque for £100, the pair were also presented with a cornucopia of cookery goodies to take home, including cook books, an apron, cookie cutters, icing kit, baking equipment, and vouchers for a cookery workshop at Chequers Kitchen in Deal.

KM Charity Team Simon Dolby chief executive said: “Every parent knows it can be a struggle to keep children entertained over the long summer holidays.

“But Young Cooks provides an ideal excuse for food-loving mums, dads and offspring to use that time inventing, testing and perfecting some eye-catching and palate-pleasing recipes.

“The competition aims to raise awareness about healthy eating and locally sourced and sustainable ingredients, so I would urge people thinking of entering to consider preparing dishes reflecting those criteria.”

The deadline for submitting entries is November 7, and the panel of judges selecting the winners will comprise representatives of Macknade Fine Foods, Principals by CH & Co Group, SE Medical, Chequers Kitchen, Broadstairs College, Brakes, Golding Homes, Three R's Teacher Recruitment, Southern Co-operative, Kent Catering Services, The Dog at Wingham, Whole School Meals and Taylor Meats.

Find out more at Youngcooks.org.uk.