Chef Matthew Ambrose is cooking up a storm in the culinary world after being named the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts’ young chef of the year.

To mark his achievement, the former Pewsey Vale pupil received a £2,000 bursary, work experience at Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant The Fat Duck and a trophy.

The 22-year-old used to live at his parents’ home in Martingale Road, Burbage, and moved to London to complete an apprenticeship at the luxury Mayfair hotel in Claridge’s.

He said: “I was surprised when I won as it was a tough competition but I was also honoured to have received such a prestigious award.

“I have wanted to be a chef from about the age of 11 when I was a year 7 student at Pewsey Vale School and had to prepare a three-course family meal, which my dad videoed.

“I was quite fussy with food as a youngster but I have always liked working with my hands in a practical way and developed a love for food.”

To be crowned the national young chef of the year, Mr Ambrose competed against other finalists who had four-and-a-half hours to produce a pasta and crayfish starter using ingredients from a mystery box.

Following his success, he has been entered into the final of the national chef of the year contest, for all ages, at the Restaurant Show, at Earls Court on October 8.

He said: “My immediate plans are to try and win the next competition and after that I would like to gain more experience with some of the country’s top chefs and to possibly travel abroad to gain experience. My ultimate ambition would be to run my own restaurant.”