Girl Guides and Scouts searching for new and exciting ways to earn badges should look no further than KM Kent Cooks.

The official cookery contest for schools and families is offering a limited edition Kent Cooks occasional badge to every Scout or Girl Guide - just for submitting an entry!

Youngsters aged six to 19 years can take part in the competition and the categories are Primary School Pupil, Secondary School Pupil and Families for adult and child teams.

It’s so quick and easy to enter. Entrants create and prepare one or two dishes (depending on competition category), take a photograph of their culinary masterpiece and upload the image and recipe details to www.kentcooks.co.uk.

But don’t delay; the deadline to enter is midnight on Tuesday, November 3.

Finalists will have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of preparing their menus using professional catering facilities at a live cook-off for a panel of food industry judges.

The thrilling Masterchef-style event will determine who will be crowned top chef for each category and who will claim the title of overall KM Kent Cook 2015. Winners will receive a share of £500 prize money, goody bags and souvenir certificates.

Lisa Craig of Kent Cooks said: “The competition is great fun and encourages young people to really think about budgeting, ingredients, cooking methods and what they eat.

“The children can polish their cooking skills while they earn occasional badges - and if they get through to the final they’re in with the chance to win top prizes. So what are you waiting for? Get your youngsters involved!”

The event is organised by the KM Charity Team and supported by the Abbots Barton Hotel, Kent Cookery School, Brakes, Countrystyle Recycling, Orbit South, Golding Vision, PaulBabra.co.uk, Mini Babybel, Three R’s teacher recruitment, VooServers, East Kent College, J.C. Rook and Sons, S.E. Medical, and Licensing Consultancy Services.

For full details, including looking at past and present entries for inspiration, visit www.kentcooks.co.uk today.