A CARE home chef has reached the final round of a national competition.

Scott Moore, who works as the head chef at Ferndown Manor in Golf Links Road, will compete in the finals of Care UK's 'chef of the year' competition.

To secure his place in the last round, Mr Moore was challenged to prepare a two-course lunch that would both appeal to residents and stay within a budget set by judges.

For the first course, Mr Moore prepared a dish called 'three little pigs'. The meal - pork tenderloin with wholegrain mustard sauce, pork belly lardons and a pork cheek croquette - was followed by a dessert of dark chocolate and rhubarb fondant with rhubarb compote.

A panel of four judges, including two residents, scored each dish based on the presentation, nutrition, use of products, taste and texture.

Speaking after he was named one of the four finalists, Mr Moore said he was "thrilled".

"The level of skill and creativity from the other chefs was really high, but I was confident that my cooking would be received well by the judges, as they are dishes that the residents at Ferndown Manor always look forward to," he said.

The finals will take place this month.