Getting creative in the kitchen could earn young cooks a share of £500.

The annual Kent Cooks competition for children and families has added in a cash reward to the prize package provided to winners of the prestigious event.

Staged by the charity department at the KM Group to promote healthy lifestyles, categories include primary school pupils, secondary students and a family category for adult and child teams.

Finalists receive a goody bag from sponsors, a Masterchef cook book as well as a cheque. The winning primary school pupil will receive £50, £100 will be awarded to the family winner, the secondary student winner will receive £150 and the Kent Cooks overall champion will receive £200.

Entering is simple. Students cook one or two courses depending on their category, take a photograph of the completed dish and upload the photo to the www.kentcooks.co.uk website. The closing date for entries is midnight on November 4.

Finalists will be invited to cook their dishes at a Masterchef-style event for a panel of VIPs and food industry experts on Thursday, November 27.

Mini Babybel and Countrystyle Recycling are two new sponsors who have decided to support the 2014 event and will join DFDS Seaways, Brakes catering, Three R's Teacher Recruitment, Golding Homes, Orbit South, Kent Cookery School, VooServers, Southern Water, Carefree Comms and Licensing Consultancy Services.

Simon Dolby from Kent Cooks said: "We are delighted to have Mini Babybel and Countrystyle bring their expertise to support this important competition. I am sure the introduction of cash prizes to reward the winners will add extra interest."

Schools wishing to request free promotional leaflets to issue to students can do so at www.kentcooks.co.uk.