There are just hours left in which to enter kids kitchen contest Young Cooks.

To be in with a chance of taking part in the competition’s Masterchef-style final, young people must submit recipes by midnight tomorrow (November 6).

Organised by the KM Charity Team, Young Cooks is open to children aged six to 19 from across the south-east.

They are invited to submit ideas for healthy and delicious dishes, with special consideration given to recipes incorporating locally sourced ingredients.

£500 in prize money will be shared by separate primary-school, family, secondary-school and overall winners chosen by judging organisations including Ashford-based Brakes Food.

Brakes Food business development chef Zoe Gill praised the competition for giving children the opportunity to learn important life skills and express their passion and enthusiasm for cooking.

She said: “I believe we’ve sponsored the event now for seven or eight years, so we’ve been a long-term partner since it started.”

“I think it’s important to engage children from as early an age as possible with the life skill of cooking and the importance of using fresh British ingredients.

“And it’s important that we see the passion and enthusiasm from the children and the support that they are given from their schools and families to be able to take part.”

Apart from Brakes, Young Cooks is supported by Broadstairs College, Golding Homes, Taylor Meats, the Dog at Wingham, the Southern Co-op, Chequers Kitchen, Macknade Fine Foods, Three R's Teacher Recruitment, Kent Catering Services, SE Medical, Whole School Meals and Principals by CH&CO.

Find out more at www.youngcooks.org.uk.