A CATERING student from Bacup has won a top cooking competition judged by some of the North West’s top foodies.

Alex Scowcroft, 17, won the level one prize for food service and barista skills at the inaugural Greater Manchester Colleges inter-skills competition.

Miss Snowcroft attends Hopwood Hall College, in Rochdale, where the competition was held.

Judges from the industry included Natasha Brown, owner of Brown’s Cakes, Rob Walker, executive chef at The Deckers Group restaurants, and Sir Bill Moorcroft, a former chef and principal of Trafford College.

Sue Hadfield, head of hospitality and catering at Hopwood Hall College, said: “The day was a huge success, which we hope to make an annual event. The students got so much out of it. Competing in competitions like this offers a great training ground for them.”