TWO North-East chefs will be serving up a treat for homecoming troops on Saturday after winning a national competition.

Shaun Rankin and Kenny Atkinson triumphed on the BBC Two programme Great British Menu, to cook part of a four-course banquet for servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan.

An expert judging panel chose Mr Rankin’s treacle tart with clotted cream and raspberry ripple ice cream as the winning dessert.

The viewers voted Mr Atkinson’s regionally inspired salad of Aberdeen Angus beef, carrots, horseradish and Shetland black potatoes as the winning starter.

Despite representing the South West during the competition, Mr Rankin was born in Ferryhill, County Durham, and used to work at the Black Bull Inn, Moulton, in North Yorkshire.

He left the North-East aged 16 to pursue an apprenticeship at the Mayfair restaurant in London, and has owned the Michelin-starred Bohemia restaurant in Jersey for the past six years. Several students from Darlington College have launched their culinary careers with placements at his restaurant.

Mr Rankin says the inspiration for his dessert came from his schooldays at Cleves Close Primary School, in Ferryhill.

“The theme for the competition was a taste from home,”

he said.

“For me, that was a childhood memory of treacle sponge and custard that we used to get at primary school.”

Mr Rankin, who still has family in Darlington, added: “This is a great honour, and a great achievement in my career.

“I was elated when I found out the result.

“These guys are fighting for the country day in, day out, so that we can have a civilised existence.”

Newcastle-born Mr Atkinson is the Michelin-starred head chef at the Seaham Hall Hotel, in County Durham, and represented the North-East during the competition.

He said: “My family has a history of serving in the forces, and to be able to cook just one course for these returning heroes is just an absolute honour for me.”

The rest of the menu consists of a main course by North West chef Nigel Haworth, and a fish course by Glynn Purnell, from the Central region. The Great British Menu Banquet will be broadcast on BBC Two during the week commencing June 15.