PIZZA is one of the most popular meals in the world. Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza each day – that’s around 350 slices per second.

And if you love pizza, you will love this Design a Pizza Schools Competition, run with Haskins Garden Centres, which gives local school children the chance to win a £100 gift card for their school and also a £50 gift card for themselves by designing their own ultimate pizza.

The pupil who designs the winning pizza will also have the chance to make their own pizza with a head chef for Haskins.

His or her fellow class pupils will then be invited to the centre to sample the winning recipe.

The prize for second place is a £25 Haskins gift card, and the offer of pizzas for the entrant and their family.

Addition-ally, there will be gift cards for five runners-up to the value of a £20 gift card voucher.

Terms and Conditions: The competition is open to pupils in local schools up to Year 4. Just download the entry form, complete the form and then draw your ideal pizza.

Post or deliver your entry to the Haskins Garden Centre at Longham, Fern-down, Dorset BH22 9DG before 20 June 2014, after which all entries will be judged by Echo Editor Toby Granville and also by the Haskins’ general restaurant manager Kevin Ramsell.

The winner will be notified by June 27 2014 and invited to be trained to make their ideal pizza. Good luck creating your mouth-watering design!

The competition rules are simple – only fully completed entry forms will be judged, no more than one entry per pupil and by entering each competitor agrees to publicity.

Judge’s decisions will be final. Entries received after June 20 2014 will not be considered.

Haskins will be able to use the best pizza designs to be sold commercially at the restaurant. To download the entry form visit website haskins.co.uk All usual Daily Echo rules and regulations apply.

 

PIZZA FACTS: According to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest recorded pizza ever baked was 37.4 metres in diameter made in South Africa on December 8, 1990.
Pizza provides a third of the total daily intake of calcium and more than half of lycopene, a micronutrient and effective antioxidant.
Favourite topping is pepperoni.
Least favourite pizza topping is anchovies.
In Japan, a pizza topping of squid and Mayo Jaga (mayonnaise, potato and bacon) is very popular.
In India, consumers prefer pickled ginger, minced mutton and tofu.
Brazilians have a weakness for green peas sprinkled over for their topping.
Russians serve pizza covered in Moskva – a heady mix of sardines, tuna, mackerel, salmon and red onions.
In the 16th century Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples, convinced her husband, King Ferdinand IV to allow the peasant dish of pizza to be made in the royal oven.
In 1889 Raffaele Esposito, the most famous pizza chef created a pie for Queen Margherita with a topping of tomato, basil and cheese.
This was to resemble the Italian tricolore flag and this remains the basis for pizza even today.
In 1994, Domino’s Pizza stores in Guatemala attempted the world record for the longest chain of pizza. The chain, reaching 500 metres, was donated to local charities.