Students invited to show their culinary skills

Students are showing off their culinary skills in a Masterchef style contest aimed at demonstrating how the household budget can last longer.

The contest, held over the next few weeks, will see would-be Jamie Olivers and Nigella Lawsons pit their wits against each other to see who can make the best use of leftovers.

And students taking part in the event will have the chance to win tasty prizes such as tickets and transport to Masterchef Live in London, meals at a top Manchester restaurant and cookery courses provided by some of the city's top chefs.

Competitors taking part in the Student Masterchef contest will work inpairs to take part in heats at the Manchester Metropolitan University's Hollings Building, creating dishes from typical leftover ingredients such as roasted chicken, sausages, vegetables and spaghetti.

Those which make it through to the final two rounds, on Wednesday 3 and 10 November, will receive mentoring by catering students, including those who have worked with top chefs including Gordon Ramsey and Marco Pierre White.

A panel, including food critics and chefs, will then judge the dishes according to taste and appearance, and decide who will go into the next round.

The contest has been organised by Manchester City Council as part of Recycle for Greater Manchester's Love Food Hate Waste campaign, aiming to promote the importance of reusing leftover food and reducing food waste.

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "We know Manchester's students are keen chefs, so this is a really good opportunity for them to show us what they can do - and to learn that you can turn leftovers into tasty meals."

Anyone who is interested in coming along to the final and sampling some of the dishes should contact: recycling@manchester.gov.uk