A Mildenhall care home chef has been announced as one of two runners-up in Care UK’s national Chef of the Year competition.

Alan Cash, who is head chef at Mildenhall Lodge care home in St John’s Close, reached the finals of Care UK’s Chef of the Year competition in October before the final winners were announced at an awards ceremony, held at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire.

Alan competed against 49 other Care UK chefs from across the country, including four other chefs from Suffolk, to reach the final stages of the competition.

He said: “I am delighted to be a runner-up in the Chef of the Year competition. I was up against some tough national competition, but I really enjoyed the opportunity.”

In the final round of the competition, Alan had to prepare a two-course meal in 90 minutes using a mystery box of ingredients.