Talented catering students battled it out with a cook-off during the first heat of the prestigious von Essen competition at Wiltshire College Trowbridge on Tuesday.

A group of nine second year catering students from the Trowbridge campus – Nick Gobby, Daniel Courage, John Agbuya, Roseanne Luther, Peter Wade, Paul Allan, Kelly Jones, Lee Witcombe and Anusara Greenland – put their culinary skills to the test in a bid to win a 12-month scholarship contract with von Essen hotels as a commis chef.

They were judged by a panel of lecturers, and Chris Sutcliffe, trainer assessor in hospitality, thought the quality of the food produced was really impressive.

He said: “ The whole event worked really well and all of the students produced an impressive standard of food.

“We gave all of the competitors feedback, and the three finalists are looking forward to taking part in the final in June.”

The students had three hours to prepare their dishes. The three lucky finalists are Roseanne Luther, Peter Wade and John Agbuya.

Roseanne, an 18-year-old from Trowbridge, cooked a starter of seared mackerel, wilted rockete, tomato and herb dressing, with a main course of duck breast, dauphinoise potato, baby carrots and sherry vinegar sauce and a dessert of chocolate tart, raspberry compote and a raspberry crème fraiche shot.

John, 17, from Trowbridge, made a butternut squash soup with squash fritters, followed by pan fried sea bass, caramelised fennel, thyme potato and a la francais sauce.

For dessert he made chocolate fondant with clotted cream and summer berries.

Peter, 20, from Trowbridge, made warm chorizo and avocado salad, followed by chicken stuffed with olive and sun dried tomato, saute potato and glazed vegetables and for dessert a chocolate sponge with fruit compote and vanilla ice cream.

A heat was also held at the Chippenham campus on Tuesday afternoon where five contestants were whittled down to three, Tom Bryant, Nick Benham and Michael Salmon.

Together with three finalists from Salisbury they will now prepare for the final on June 16 at Trowbridge, followed by a ceremony announcing the winner at Homewood Park Hotel.