A college lecturer who works as a chef in Aberaeron is in the running to be named as the best young chef in the UK.

Coleg Ceredigion's Sam Everton has been handpicked for the prestigious UK Young National Chef competition, hosted by the Craft Guild of Chefs.

The award-winning chef and lecturer in professional cookery will battle it out with culinary masters from renowned establishments including the Savoy, House of Commons and The Dorchester.

With such acclaimed competitors, his selection to represent Coleg Ceredigion is already a notable achievement.

The competition will test Mr Everton's ability to create a three-course menu for an elegant lunch.

This includes a vegetarian agnolotti pasta starter, which needs to incorporate foraged or locally sourced ingredients.

The main dish will highlight Norwegian halibut in a butter-based sauce, before a fancy interpretation of a filled choux dessert with fruit and seasonal fruit puree forms the finale.

Mr Everton will bring ample accolades to the contest.

He said: "I was thrilled when I discovered I’d been shortlisted and invited to compete at this industry-renowned competition.

"This event firmly establishes a chef as a rising star of the culinary world both in the UK and beyond and is a highly sought-after experience by those working in the industry.

"I feel honoured and excited to be invited and I will soon be planning my own interpretation to fit the menu brief."

This year, he bagged the title of 2024 Junior Chef of Wales and prior to that, he was named the 2023 Best Young Chef in Wales at the Young Chef Young Waiter competition.

His winning streak saw him represent Wales at the grand finale in Monaco where he, along with his partner, Carys, secured third place.

Mr Everton has culinary expertise as chef de partie at Y Seler in Aberaeron.

Some of his other prior victories include Young Welsh Chef of the Year in 2017, Best British Chef (under 22) in 2018-2019, and representing Britain in global competitions in countries as diverse as Australia, Finland, China, Sweden and Dubai.

He was even ranked fifth best young chef in the world at a WorldSkills competition in Russia.