The heat is on for a young chef in the final of a cooking competitions.

Helena Shewan, 13, has made it to the final five of the UK’s Young Pea Chef of the Year competition 2017.

The pupil from St Margaret’s School, Bushey was chosen to represent Hertfordshire in the secondary school category of their challenge for the best pea-based recipe.

Her salmon pie with spicy Ethiopian flavours beat hundreds of other entries from years seven and eight across the country.

The public have a chance to vote for Helena to be crowned champion and win £500 worth of cooking equipment for their school from competition sponsor, Pro Cook by Friday, June 23.

Helena said: “After visiting Ethiopia last summer, I decided I had to bring back some of my country’s unique spices with me, named berbere “the Queen of all spices”.

“I thought this recipe would be an interesting, yet mouth-watering, experiment of my favourite salmon dishes blended with flavoured peas— with some berbere for some added traditional flavours!

“I am so glad that the judges liked my recipe and I hope to get as many votes as I can before the 23rd June!”

Her dish was chosen by an expert panel of five judges including TV chef Rachel Green.

She said: “The level of entries we received from children across the country was outstanding and we’re delighted so many schools and families took the time to get creative in the kitchen and cook up their pea inspired dish.

“Peas are incredibly nutritious and versatile, adding so much colour and taste to meals, and we hope that the competition will inspire many British children to see peas as an exciting ingredient.”

The challenge is run by the Yes Peas! Campaign which represents the pea-vining sector in the UK with ProCook.

To vote visit the Yes Peas! Facebook page and for more information visit www.youngpeachef.co.uk.