IT’S not every day that you get the chance to get tips on how to cook a perfect pie from a real masterchef.

But that was what was on the menu for Carol Baylis, from Bramley, after she won a competition.

Carol spent the day with chef and TV presenter James Martin on Friday, March 21, getting an exclusive cooking masterclass and learning some new skills.

She won the special class after winning a competition during British Pie Week, run by Vintage Inns.

The winners were chosen at random from fans who were asked to send in a picture of themselves tucking into a pie.

Carol was one of seven winners who spent the day cooking with James at Longbridge Mill, in Sherfield-on-Loddon.

The 54-year-old described the day with her culinary hero as “brilliant”.

She said: “I was absolutely overwhelmed that I won the competition and got to spend the day with James. I entered the competition after enjoying a meal at Longbridge Mill as it was easy to enter and I’m a big fan of James Martin.

“I had an absolutely brilliant day and enjoyed meeting the fellow competition winners as well as getting some hands-on cooking tips from James.”

After spending the morning teaching the class how to make the perfect pie, James enjoyed a three-course meal with Carol and the other six winners.

James said: “Carol was a really confident cook and her pudding, a chocolate fondant, was one of the best in the class. I hope she continues to practise her cooking skills as she is a natural in the kitchen.”