ANDOVER Hospital is the meal deal when it comes to cooking - if their prize-winning chefs are anything to go by.

After entering the annual Salon Culinaire competition held by the Hospital Caterers Association, caterers from Andover War Memorial Hospital returned triumphantly with one cup, one gold, two silvers and three merits.

The Andover team showed off their culinary skills to judges at the Southampton City College of Further Education in rounds such as the garnish live class, vegetable terrine and the cold dessert category.

Mother and son double act Janet and Stuart Wahnon battled it out in the decorated celebration cake category with Janet pipping her son to the gold award and Stuart taking the silver.

And together they gained a merit in the 'Ready Steady Cook' style doubles exercise.

Stuart said: "My mum and I are both very competitive and she is probably the reason why I got into cooking."

Food services manager Marc Phillips won the Mason Cup for scoring the highest number of points in all categories of the competition.

He said: "I did not expect to get the big cup - they are usually won by people from the bigger hospitals.

"I hope events like this will continue to change people's perceptions about hospital food."

Stuart and Janet's engagement cake and christmas cake will now go towards the hospital's christmas raffle.