TALENTED cooks from Somerset are in the running for South West Chef of the Year awards.

John Godfrey, Senior Chef de Partie at the Castle Hotel, Taunton, is a sem-finalist in the young professional class, while Steve Ashworth from Taunton and Beverley Milner Simonds from Burnham are finalists in the amateur category.

Competition judges include: Michael Caines, James and Chris Tanner, Mark Hix, Paul Ainsworth, Peter Gorton, Matt Mason and Nathan Outlaw.