Gordon Ramsay with Josh Eggleton

The winner of the Gordon Ramsay Scholar college title 2003, held at the award-winning chef's Petrus restaurant in central London on Sunday, will receive �1,000 and the chance to work in a top kitchen in France.

But the student chefs, five of whom are still in their teens, will have just two and a half hours to create a two-course meal from an unknown range of nearly 50 different ingredients.

Competing chefs James Abernethy, 18, Southampton City College Victoria Stone, 24, Pembrokeshire College James Kirkbride, 19, Lakes College Hefin Roberts, 19, Coleg Llandrillo Josh Eggleton, 19, from City of Bristol College Euan Currie, 18, from Ayr College.

Their final dishes will be put to a panel of four experts, led by the Mr Ramsay.

"With such a vast array of ingredients it can be tempting to use too many and spoil the overall dish," he said.

"It will be a real test for a young chef and I am looking for that special one who has ambition and desire combined with talent."

The winner in the college chef category will also be entered as a "wild card" for the grand final of Ramsay's overall national competition.