They are associated with cooking on an open camp fire, but scouts have shown they have the potential to be top chefs.

A challenge to serve up their best plates of food for a pair of judges had five groups of youngsters cooking up a storm at an annual culinary contest.

The scouts from across Lowestoft created a range of creative menus as they took part in the Lowestoft District Scouts cookery competition at the Pakefield Scout headquarters in Kendal Road.

The teams of three scouts battled it out to impress the judges by preparing a three-course meal – with the task of cooking a balanced meal using just a two-ring gas burner and with ingredients costing not more than £5 per head.

Two of the three courses had to be cooked and served hot with all dishes prepared from raw ingredients during the competition.

The meals were judged by two independent home cooks – who awarded marks not only for good cooking but also for presentation, time keeping, organisation, the originality and imagination of the menu and good hygiene.

The teams had just two hours to complete the meal and they were expected to eat their own food as well as to clean and wash up afterwards.

Organiser Rob Harbord said: 'As well as teaching the youngsters the need to be organised and work well together, they also learnt about food hygiene and how to handle meat safely.

'More marks were allocated to cleanliness throughout the task and clearing up was also assessed.'

One of the judges, Shirley Hoad, said; 'We sampled all of the food and were really impressed with the standard, quality and taste of the food.

'All the youngsters did really well and should be proud of themselves and of the fantastic meals they made.

'What was really pleasing was to see the youngsters working so well together as a team.'

The judges made special mention for the fish cake starter, which they said was a delight. They also praised the chicken and pancetta tagliatelle and said they were 'blown away' with the steamed sponge pudding.

The result was very close with just one point separating the top teams.

The judges selected 2nd Carlton Colville as winners of the competition for the second year running with 14th Lowestoft runners-up followed by 1st Pakefield.

The tempting menus

2nd Carlton Colville

Poached egg on yoghurt flatbread

Chicken & pancetta tagliatelle

Dark chocolate mousse

14th Lowestoft

Smoked haddock fishcakes

Chicken Alfredo

Bananas in honey

1st Pakefield

Chickpea salad with raita

Chicken Jalfrezi

Orange and cardamom steamed sponge pudding

1st Oulton Broad

Veggie sticks & houmous

Tomato veggie meatballs

Pancake with chocolate spread

1st Blundeston

Cheesy Nachos

Chicken Tikka pasta

Passion fruit cheesecake