PROMISING young chefs will have to put their friendship aside as they battle to be crowned the best in the south west.

Brogan Jones and Phoebe Hillyard, both 15, from Nova Hreod School, have been handpicked by celebrity chef James Martin in his search for the country’s next culinary prodigy to battle it out at the Red Tractor Beef And Lamb Make It With Mince Challenge 2013.

The pair, from Greenmeadow, had to submit a unique beef or lamb recipe, complete with a photo to be considered. Brogan created a shepherd’s mint and feta cobbler while Phoebe concocted steamed Chinese dumplings with mushroom rice noodles.

They will have just one hour on Monday to prepare their dishes and impress head judge James Martin and a panel of industry experts at the final in Bristol.

The friends are no amateurs. They were awarded first prize at Swindon College’s annual cook-off when they were just 13.

It is the second time Phoebe has been selected to compete in the Make It With Mince Challenge. She said: “I’m excited but I think I’ll be nervous when I get there. We will be against each other instead of being together.

“Our teacher helped us with the recipes. We tried to find something that was quite different. It’s good experience to be in a competition.”

Time management is Brogan’s biggest concern ahead of the competition.

“We’ve been practicing,” said the year 11 student. “But I’m quite nervous. We’ve only got an hour to cook. “The timing is going to be the hardest thing.”

The winner will get through to the national final and vie for a chance to go on the set of the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen Live and sample menus at some of the capital's top restaurants.

The Red Tractor Beef And Lamb Make It With Mince Challenge, now in its eighth year.

It is a free-to-enter initiative aimed at students aged 11 to 16 who are eager to showcase their culinary skills at a national level.

James Martin said: “Each year the standard gets higher and higher and the quality of entries we’ve received this time is superb. “I am really looking forward to the cook-off with Brogan and Phoebe.”