Afaf Jackson, 15, who attends Aveland High School in Billingborough, came second in the national semi-finals of the Young Chef of the Year competition, which is organised annually by the Rotary Club.

Afaf’s three-course meal impressed the judging panel which included chefs and Rotary Club members. It consisted of lemon cups with smoked salmon and oatcakes for starter, marinated chicken with honey, Moroccan vegetables and couscous for the main course and panettone pudding with cherries served with crème fresh,

Her journey to the semi-finals, which were held in Ollerton, Nottingham, began at school after she was chosen along with three other pupils to enter a south Lincolnshire competition, where Afaf, who lives in Sleaford, came second.

She then progressed to the regional finals in February before taking part in the semi-finals.

Jill Johnson, a food teacher at the school, said: “Afaf’s ability to cook amazing meals under the most difficult of circumstances surely makes her our own Mastechef, whether she was first or second. The school offers great congratulations to Afaf.”