A STUDENT from Thornbury has proved his mettle and won one of the top prizes at the World Pasty Championships for the second year running.

Daniel Beddoes, a student at The Castle School, won the open savoury junior category with his barbecue chicken version of the popular pastry.

The 13-year-old, from Waterford Close, comes from a family with a history of success in the competition with his aunt, entering the inaugural competition four years ago.

Daniel’s 10-year-old sister Hannah from Crossways school also entered the competition, beating Daniel in the taste test section of the competition with her scallop pasty.

Their father, Chris Beddoes, explained where the inspiration for their perfect pastries came from:

“The inspiration for entering the competition came from their aunt who had entered the championships before. However, Daniel does food technology at Castle and I think some of the inspiration for his pasties has come from there.”

The pair both practice their baking for the five weeks leading up to the competition to make sure their designs are perfected for the big day.

Chris Beddoes added: “It takes a lot of hard work to win the competition. They think up their ideas for their pasties well in advance and practice before they enter the competition.

"There's even a kind of preliminary competition we have in Bristol just to make sure everyone's pasties are perfect before the championships."

Daniel retained the prize he won in last year’s competition, picking up one of only nine prizes awarded at the championships, held at the Eden Project in Cornwall.

The top amateur award of the competition was won by Chilean Jorge Pereira with his pasty made with beef, onion, hard-boiled egg, olives and sultanas.

Other awards were handed out to pasty-making companies and professional bakers.