Lancashire school cooks are celebrating after winning accolades across the board in a national catering competition.

The annual Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) Finishing Touches Catering exhibition gives school cooks the opportunity to show off skills that they wouldn't usually get the chance to.

The competition, held recently in Birmingham, is aimed at all levels of staff employed in school catering. It is now in its 10th year and is organised in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs.

Twelve different categories include a range of skills from cake baking and decorating, to floral sugarcraft and cakes for special diets.

Jacqueline Baines from Barnoldswick Church of England Primary School baked her way to winning both the Gold medal and the Best in Class award in the Apple Pie/Tart category.

Jacqueline said: "I was really nervous about the competition and hoping that something wouldn't go wrong.

"I was over the moon when I won."

County Councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, said: "Being a school cook is a challenging job. Their menus have to be varied and interesting, as well as nutritious, balanced and appealing to children.

"We know we have some great cooks in our schools, and I'd like to give huge congratulations to those who did so well in this national competition for proving they're among the best anywhere."

The winners for the LACA 2017 Finishing Touches competition were:
• Jacqueline Baines, Barnoldswick Church of England Primary School - Apple Pie/Tart - Gold and Best in Class
• Jacqueline Baines, Barnoldswick Church of England Primary School - Tray Bake - Merit
• Jeanette Smith, West Craven High School, Barnoldswick - Tray Bake - Bronze
• Jeanette Smith, West Craven High School, Barnoldswick - Cake suitable for a special diet - Merit
• Sharon Webster, Brookfield Park Primary School, Skelmersdale - Filled and/or covered sponge, gateau or cake - Merit
• Sarah Callaby, Carr Hill High School, Kirkham - Cupcakes - Bronze
• Sarah Callaby, Carr Hill High School, Kirkham - Cake suitable for a special diet - Merit
• Clare Nelson, Carr Hill High School, Kirkham - Decorated Novelty Cake - Bronze
• Rachel Castles-Bathie, Aughton Town Green Primary School, Ormskirk - Cake suitable for a special diet - Merit

Other classes in the competition were:
• Biscuits
• Decorated Celebration Cake
• Floral Sugarcraft Display Piece
• Petit Fours
• Chocolate Truffles
• Individual Fruit Tarts