COOKING competitions will be held in Christchurch on Monday as part of the annual Food and Wine Festival starting this weekend.

The school contests will be held in a marquee theatre in Wick Lane car park from 9.30am with festival patron Lesley Waters giving a talk at 10.15am.

At 12pm there is a free demonstration by chef James Golding from the Pig Restaurant in Brockenhurst, on the subject of forest foraging.

Youngsters from local primary schools will be showing their entries to the judges at 1.45pm and at 2.30pm the finals of the young restaurant chefs will take place.