A pupil from South Craven School at Cross Hills showed off her culinary expertise to the nation in a television programme.

Catherine Gregory, who is in year eight, featured in the BBC’s Junior MasterChef.

She has enjoyed cooking for years and decided to apply to take part after watching previous MasterChef episodes.

A spokesman for South Craven School said: “Catherine was invited to the Manchester studios where she had to take a prepared meal.

“Her lemon syllabub in brandy snap baskets with shortbread petticoat tails and a berry compote was enough to see her through to the next round.

“This meant a trip to London where, along with three others, she had to do a technical challenge which she wasn’t allowed to prepare for in advance. Having watched celebrity chef John Torode prepare Pad Thai, she and the other contestants had to do it themselves.

“They then had to cook a two-course meal within an hour. Unfortunately her marinated tuna, beetroot salsa salad and new potatoes followed by fruity Victoria sponge wasn’t good enough to see her through to the next round.”

Catherine was given a copy of the MasterChef recipe book as a prize and is continuing to cook at home.

Buoyed by her television experience she has now set up her own business, called Cakes by Catherine.